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This Photographer Captures Museum-goers Who Look Like the Art

This Photographer Captures Museum-goers Who Look Like the Art

By Jess McHugh

November 09, 2017

Courtesy of Stefan Draschan

Just as dog owners often look like their pets, romantic partners seem to mysteriously resemble each other more and more over time. So too, apparently, do museum-goers often bear a striking resemblance to the pieces of art that resonate with them.

Stefan Draschan, 38, an Austrian-born photographer, first started noticing people who looked like paintings when he captured a man standing in front of a Georges Braque in Berlin in the summer of 2014.

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The project has since taken off, largely by accident, with Draschan creating an entire series of photographs around these museum doppelgangers.

Draschan's introduction to photography was similarly kismet. He first picked up a camera four years ago when he decided to quit smoking, needing something to do with his hands.

He quickly became a keen observer of his surroundings, taking an interest in the small details of wherever he might find himself.

“I just look out for everything. I’m interested in puddles on the street, in the moon...really everything, I just like to look and to observe,” he told Travel + Leisure.

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His photographs resonated on social media, and he has seen thousands of responses from admirers all over the world. In an even more meta twist, one artist even asked to create a painting from one of Draschan’s images.

Start Slideshow

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A Blue-haired Match

Courtesy of Stefan Draschan

Draschan first started taking photographs four years ago.

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An All-consuming Sunset

Courtesy of Stefan Draschan

Don't look too closely, or you could fall in.

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Portrait Doppelgangers

Courtesy of Stefan Draschan

Draschan says the first photo he took for this series just happened by accident, three years ago.

4 of 9

Wall-hanging or Sweater?

Courtesy of Stefan Draschan

Sometimes your museum ensemble just nails it.

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Pastel Girl

Courtesy of Stefan Draschan

Before this series, Draschan photographed a similar series of cars parked in front of homes that resembled each other.

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Patterns and Poses

Courtesy of Stefan Draschan

"When I’m on this project, you have to be fast,” Draschan says.

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Red Sunset

Courtesy of Stefan Draschan

A picture of a woman taking a picture of a picture.

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Hat in a Wall

Courtesy of Stefan Draschan

Part of looking at art is wearing the right accessories.

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Patterned Portraits

Courtesy of Stefan Draschan

Draschan has seen overwhelming support for this project, and he said that positivity has kept him going.

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This Photographer Captures Museum-goers Who Look Like the Art