ADVERTISEMENT

Bas Uterwijk is back on Bored Panda with more of his recreations (old post here)! Bas uses artificial intelligence to recreate paintings, statues, and many other things into a realistic portrait of what these historical figures could have looked like. Technology has come a long way, so if you've ever wondered what Mona Lisa, Van Gogh, or Shakespeare looked like in real life, this post is for you.

Bas has worked in CG animation and video games, but for about 14 years now, he's devoted himself to documentaries and photography. He has a lot of experience with this type of technology. So when he started to experiment with recreations and AI, he found a new hobby and way to use the skills he gained through all those years. 

More info: Instagram | basuterwijk.com | twitter.com

#1

Jesus (New Version)

Jesus (New Version)

ganbrood Report

Add photo comments
POST
crawzette avatar
Julie Fournil
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

no way Jesus could take a plane without his suitcase being searched

dmarsh avatar
Daniel Marsh
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Actually, there are 3rd century paintings, and 6th-century paintings based on paintings from the first century. They look way more Jewish than the medieval, European paintings you're used to seeing, but they often do depict long hair and a beard.

Load More Replies...
jenc_riggs avatar
Jenifer Riggs
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Finally something a bit more accurate! Realistically speaking, based on estimated population demographics, it was virtually impossible for Jesus to have been a full on white person as he is often depicted.

m2crows avatar
jamie1707 avatar
jamie1707
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If that was really Jesus, and he came back, Ted Cruise etal would have him deported in seconds.

a_ingrassia avatar
Anna Sadacca
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

that's much better...at least now his looks are more probable than the wonder bread white guy he's portrayed to be ad nauseam

shaynameidela avatar
eulaliegrace avatar
reachout_1 avatar
Beau Chevassus
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I like how the artist gave him smiling eyes. So many portraits show him being way serious. He was a super likeable guy, getting invited to weddings and stuff. Fun fact: he also probably spoke multiple languages—including the commerce language of Greek—because he grew up in a trading hub. He also most likely didn’t have a long beard and long hair, a common misconception when people read “Nazartite” (the people who took a sacred vow not to cut hair) and Nazarene (a person from Nazareth). He was also probably more of General Contractor than a carpenter (which makes a lot of sense considering his knowledge of business finances, hiring/firing people, building planning, foundation work, etc. that we read in his parables. (E.g. “The stone people rejected became the cornerstone”)

cindysnowsnyder avatar
Candy Rae
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Ive always read men from his time did not wear long hair( except one sect)so this may be more accurate.

dmarsh avatar
Daniel Marsh
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It was unusual, but it was practiced by certain sects, which Jesus was likely attached to.

Load More Replies...
poking_tadpoles avatar
TrashPandaru
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm not at all religious, but there's something about the look in his eyes that makes me feel quite emotional

labellesanmerci avatar
Laura Catania
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I agree. There is a kindness to the eyes which is quite surprising in a piece of art

Load More Replies...
gingerlord avatar
Ginger Lord
Community Member
2 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

There's not one image of Jesus looking like this.Not on the 1st Century Catacombs in Rome or anywhere! He did not look like this.Not everyone was brown in that part of the world.Especislly Rome!

lorieverard avatar
Lori Everard
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If the hotbed of unrest, crime, evil, etc. had been in Scandinavia, I'm sure that Jesus would have been tall, blond and blue eyed, for He didn't want His looks to get in the way of who He was and what he was trying to say. But the hotbed of unrest was not there, but in a region of the world that has always been a center of turmoil and mayhem, the middle east. So He would indeed look much like the picture above, a "regular guy," having been born there and not wanting His looks to get in the way of what He wanted to do and what He wanted to say.

estevanstudios avatar
Steve Chaparro
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I love when people try to convince the world that Jesus was brown or black. Jesus was a jew. How many black/brown Jews you see today? images-61f...bae331.jpg images-61fd975bae331.jpg

pinkvoice8 avatar
Kitcat0828
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Interesting, at first it looks like he's smiling and then when you look longer he is no longer smiling and in facts looks sad or in pain

jevais avatar
jevais
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

So Jesus as I always thought was not blond, pink skin and blue eyes. In fact nobody in his time had given a discription of him and in the NewTestament neither I could find out what he looked like. Why has he always pictured as a Northern European? Was it more acceptable for the Europeans to embrace this new religion?

jackiewacky avatar
Jackie Wacky
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Nice: as a Middle Eastern man, this is a bit more like it. Better than those bloody pictures where JC has blonde hair and blue eyes...!!!

ann_oldfield avatar
Ann Oldfield
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

He was a direct descendant of David ..... do you all think he looks Jewish enough ?

backatya7 avatar
backatya
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I believe he had longer hair due to the lack of barber shops

sfrench1989 avatar
Frenchie
Community Member
3 years ago

This comment has been deleted.

lascam63 avatar
LaurieAnne Smith
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

More realistic, I think it's a trusting face, I mean look at the eyes.

dmarsh avatar
Daniel Marsh
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

ctually, there are 3rd century paintings, and 6th-century paintings based on paintings from the first century. They look way more Jewish than the medieval, European paintings you're used to seeing, but they often do depict long hair and a beard

crunchewy-watson avatar
CrunChewy McSandybutt
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This makes way more sense than the blonde hunk of burnin' love we often see.

tameriharding avatar
Tameri Harding
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The Bible says Jesus had skin of copper and hair of WOOL. This is inaccurate

aeanderson avatar
AE Anderson
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In Revelation, he is described as having hair "as WHITE as wool." This means color, not texture. Also, this is not meant to be an exact physical description of what Jesus looked like in life. It is a symbolic representation.

Load More Replies...
mosheh_wolf avatar
Mosheh Wolf
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

To be honest, this is not how most people in the Levant look. Lebanese are the closest to how people in the area looked before the Arab invasions of the 7th century. Examples of people of Lebanese descent are Ralph Nader, Tony Shalhoub, Jamie Farr, and Paul Anka. Salam Hayek and Shakira both have one parent from Lebanon. It is the typical racism of Europeans, even those who are pretending to be progressive. "All of these Middle Eastern people are the same, so let's take an Arab from Yemen and consider him to be typical of Levantine people, Arabs, Egyptians, who cares? As long as they have dark skin and eyes and look 'exotic', we're good".

cynthiabonville avatar
Cynthia Bonville
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Always thought his hair was described as wooly, so more kinky pls and his beard is too straight.

aeanderson avatar
AE Anderson
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In Revelation, he is described as having hair "as WHITE as wool." This means color, not texture. Also, this is not meant to be an exact physical description of what Jesus looked like in life. It is a symbolic representation.

Load More Replies...
rabbitcarrot avatar
bbflute avatar
suegreene avatar
Sue Clasen
Community Member
3 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

He doesn't look like at all to the Shroud, rather a modern hipster coloured version of it.

raymartin avatar
View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu

We got an interview with Bas and he told us about his work, himself, and many other things: "Although my career path has swayed in different directions, my focus has always been on playing with realism and illusion. Special effects, 3D animation, and video games all try to make fantasies plausible. Influenced by European comics, movies, and video games, I have experimented with most forms of visual storytelling."

#3

Statue Of Liberty (New Version)

Statue Of Liberty (New Version)

ganbrood Report

Add photo comments
POST
allanjohnbreum avatar
Allan Breum
Community Member
3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Strange, if you took away the hair and added a laurel wreath, I swear she would look exactly like a young Julius Caesar...

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu

"Working with classical art versus photography in neural networks for me feels like the next step in depicting ourselves. Just as photography changed the shape of classical painting, techniques based on artificial intelligence will start influencing and inspiring art and (post-)photography. AI applications are developing at an incredible speed and it will influence almost all segments of our society. I wouldn't be surprised if, in five or ten years, it will be possible to create moving, interactive three-dimensional characters with these techniques: super-realistic avatars that people are able to communicate within virtual surroundings."

ADVERTISEMENT

"After working more than a decade in 3D animation, I was getting frustrated with the artificiality of it, so photography, for me, was a way to expand my horizons and investigation of what reality looks like: getting to know light and the way it behaves on materials, human faces, and how we perceive expressions in their smallest details."

"Eventually, blood was thicker than water and I fell in love with generative adversarial networks. Recreating historical faces feels like being a detective in time. It blurs the line between realism and fantasy, between technique and creativity. That is an area I feel best."

ADVERTISEMENT
#9

Jacqueline Roque - Picasso's Muse

Jacqueline Roque - Picasso's Muse

ganbrood Report

Add photo comments
POST
annemarie-ophetveld avatar
Hooked
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I don't quite understand this. This is a person of whom photographs exist. It's very easy to find out how she "really" looks (looked)

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu

"I started out with some of the most iconic faces, but I am planning to bring to life a much more diverse crowd of people that might not always be remembered on the covers of history books, but were important nonetheless."

ADVERTISEMENT
#11

Venus De Milo

Venus De Milo

ganbrood Report

Add photo comments
POST
cyf_downs avatar
𝕥𝕠𝕒𝕤𝕥
Community Member
3 years ago

This comment has been deleted.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu

"Some creations take a couple of hours, others weeks. Van Gogh is one of my favorites, but also one of the most frustrating characters to work on. I think I have spent the most work on Vincent and I feel I will never be finished with him. Because of the many self-portraits and their dissimilarities, I can go on forever in imagining him."

"Next to the historical recreations, I really love to work on completely made-up faces. For my audience, it sometimes is hard to see what they are looking at. Especially for people who are not familiar with the technical aspects of my work. That way, they don't know how much is made up. It could be a photograph of someone they have never seen before. I aim to make these faces interesting enough so they captivate and intrigue the viewer, like in any good classical portrait."

ADVERTISEMENT
#15

Tintin

Tintin

ganbrood Report

Add photo comments
POST
laana-aladan avatar
Laana
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Ohh,wow! I know where we can find a real Tintin! He is a friend of mine!

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu

"At the moment, I am working on different ways to enhance the resolution of my images because I love to see them really big on the wall of a living room or a museum. Three of my best images are being sold through a gallery at the moment. After Bored Panda put up my work last summer, my portraits went pretty viral. I have a few projects and expositions coming up that resulted from the global attention I got last year."

#16

Rogier Van Der Weyden - Portrait Of A Lady

Rogier Van Der Weyden - Portrait Of A Lady

ganbrood Report

See Also on Bored Panda

"I get a lot of mail from people that want to know where to begin when they want to make similar portraits and I always tell them the easiest part is to just start working with apps like Artbreeder and other neural network-based utilities out there. There are already a couple of guys doing something very similar, quite successfully; some probably started at the same time as I did. My aim is to develop a personal signature which distinguishes me from the others. It's like in photography: Anyone can buy a great camera which takes razor-sharp images automatically, but how can you stand out from everyone else with the same equipment? I guess that is the hardest part: showing people who you are through any medium."

ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#27

Lucius Annaeus Seneca

Lucius Annaeus Seneca

ganbrood Report

ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#29

Girl With A Pearl Earring

Girl With A Pearl Earring

ganbrood Report