First Words by Javier Jaén

Barcelona-based creative Javier Jaén spends his days illustrating the world around him.  For the past three years, Javier has been building a steady reputation via weekly collaborations with The New York Times Magazine.

"It is work that takes the form photo illustrations for a section called “First Words” which considers the ways language shifts and shapes our understanding of the world. The topics covered are vast and complex, from “The Identity Politics of Whiteness” to “How ‘Political Correctness’ Went From Punch Line to Panic.” For three years, it’s been Javier’s job to make impactful visual images to reduce those arguments into a single image."