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Being born in the modern age, we often forget how different things were before us. People could only know what someone looked like based on an artist's subjective vision or a grainy black-and-white photo. Despite the efforts of the artists, paintings can rarely achieve the level of realism that pictures can. And thus, people often wonder how some of the most famous historical figures really looked with all of the subjectiveness removed from the image. Bas Uterwijk, a photographer from Amsterdam who has a background in computer graphics, 3D animation, and special effects, slowly but surely tries to provide the answer to this aching question.

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

#1

Statue Of Liberty

Statue Of Liberty

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He started in 2019. After experimenting with Billy the Kid's photograph and seeing positive results, Uterwijk decided to try and recreate someone who lived in an era where there were no photographs. He tried Napoleon, but didn't want to share the results because they were "nice, but not perfect." About a few months ago, he came back to Napoleon and tried it once again. "The software I work with is developing fast," he thought, so he figured trying it at a later time might bring better results. You can see how his "current" Napoleon turned out in the picture below.

#2

Vincent Van Gogh

Vincent Van Gogh

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Here's what he told Bored Panda: "I think the human face hasn't changed dramatically over thousands of years and apart from hairstyles and makeup, people that lived long ago probably looked very much like us, but we are used to seeing them in the often distorted styles of ancient art forms that existed long before the invention of photography."

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#5

Jesus Christ

Jesus Christ

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avriel_a avatar
Avriel Schwartz
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This reconstruction looks far too European. Genetically he would have looked closer to a Sephardi Jew from the Middle East.

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

I was told by my mother that Jesus looks different in everyone's eyes

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Mary Ellen Nissley
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Looks like what a European Renaissance painter would have used for a model. But Jesus was thoroughly Jewish. Probably of more diminutive stature, darker complected, and with a longer beard... probably jet-black hair. And those eyes... nope. He had snap. He freed all the animals and threw the cheatin' money-changers out of the temple and overthrew their tables, remember?

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

Quite the contrary, Jesus was not as ugly as you appear here .. There are several accounts describing Jesus' physical beauty, he was white in color, with golden hair, azure eyes, broad forehead, and strong stature .. Leave you from those frivolous people who want to offend the Lord of Glory

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SuperUnicorn47
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

there was a little girl named Akiane Kramarik who went to heaven, saw Jesus, and came back and painted him at age 4. Both her parents were athiests jesus-5f02...2baac3.jpg jesus-5f0246e2baac3.jpg

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

But he is not, of course, as in this picture that you put in your comment, that Jesus is more beautiful and splendid than this image. Look for the description of Jesus in a letter to the governor of Judaism to Caesar of Rome.

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Jane W.
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

No photos or paintings were done of Jesus, as far as we know. So what was the artist drawing on here?

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

I picture him with darker skin with more middle eastern features (sorry if I offend)

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

There is a mistaken belief among Westerners that the Easterners are all dark-skinned! On the contrary, there are many of them white, blond and blue-eyed, David and Joseph were white and blonde ..

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Dave
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

There is no proof that the man existed, even less about how he looked.

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

Looks... ordinary for that part of the world. Which is the point, arguably. You are not supposed to recognise the Maker of Heaven and Earth unless you pay very close attention.

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Amber Sanders Amlie
Community Member
3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Y’all are arguing and all I can do is wipe my tears. I was raised to know Jesus, but not the judgmental one others preach of. Jesus has the kindest eyes and this man’s eyes speaks volumes to me. Jesus loved ALL: gays, orphans, widows, adulterers, outcasts, no one was shunned. Stop listening to the evangelicals, GOD AND JESUS LOVES THE GAYS.

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

My grandparents were from Lebanon and had clear eyes and skin. It is difficult to say what the face of Jesus was.

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Reinaldo Fuentes
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Still WAY too European. That cognitive dissonance is a bitch, ain't it.

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

This foolish designer deliberately drew the face of Christ ugly while Christ was handsome and majestic, white in complexion and with golden hair and heavenly eyes, as described by the governor of Judaism in a letter to Caesar of Rome.

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

Jesus was an ethnic Jew, not Arab or Black or Egyptian. I think this portrait is very good.

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

Nope. Still too European. Back to the drawing board, white man.

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Mei-Lin Po
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm wondering what images or information were used for creating this?

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

He looks like whatever you imagine, hence, imaginary.

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Kathi Keegan Chang
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Thankfully, NO blue eyes since he likely had a brown, "searching" smile. I agree with Avriel Schwartz's comment, below. Still, an amazing rendition.

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Olga G
Community Member
3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The artist used something as the basis - a sculpture or a picture, interesting what was used here?

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Spaced out boblehead
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

ur insulting christ yeh didnt even know wat he looks like unless, your 2,023 yrs old the spectres come again.

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

Pleasant. kind, reassuring to those who believe, a comfort a painting done by showing emotion instead of opinion. I love it.

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

This ( as a Catholic) is so amazing. This looks like a photo of the lord! 😃

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

Jesus spoke Aramaic so I believe he really looks quite Arabic

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

The reason all the paintings looked so feminine is that almost all of the men of the time were either working their asses off elsewhere, or were off to war. They had women posing for the paintings.

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

Jesus didn't shave so this is wrong. Beard would be much longer

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

Thought he was supposed to have darker skin. This white girl thinks Jesus was dark skinned/black.

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

Jesus Christ was from the middle eastern nation to be precise, modern-day Palestine 🇵🇸.

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

...looks middle eastern-ish to me, definitely the large beautiful middle eastern eyes & the a larger distinctly shaped middle eastern nose, looks impressively believable for sure, good job !

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Elisa Panetta
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3 years ago

This comment has been deleted.

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Elisa Panetta
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3 years ago

This comment has been deleted.

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

Excellent likeness. This compares favorably with the actual photos of Jesus from the Vatican’s archives. Of course, they only had monochrome emulsions way back then, so the colorizing is subject to some spirited Theological debate. (But seriously, yeah, this looks a lot like LMM.)

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

"actual" photos of Jesus? the camera must've been invented way earlier than I thought...

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

https://www.ancient-origins.net/news-general/reconstructing-jesus-using-science-flesh-out-face-religion-004942

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Catlady6000
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I do wonder what he based this one on, aside from possible genetics (Jesus was born Jewish, yes it says so in the Bible). However there are few, if any, accounts of his actual appearance, and there are a LOT of different artists images

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Catlady6000
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I do like this, the kind and patient facial expression is a good representation of Jesus' character

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

At least he doesn’t have blue eyes like usually portrayed in evangelical American (read white) churches.

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

Except for his lips, he strongly resembles my former son-in-law, from Morocco.

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

i would have imagined he had curly hair for some reason

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

The Bible said he was a rather ugly man that no one where look at twice. And yes he was a Jew.

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

This portrait is better than the lily white renditions so often shown!

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

I just hate it when they paint Jesus with long hair. It was impossible for him to have long hair AND drink or touch wine. And he did drink. Sorry, not historical. But I love men with long hair in real life.

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

Why would it be impossible for him to have long hair and drink or touch wine?

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

I am pretty sure this guy sold me weed in high school.

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

Agreed they already did the special on what jesus most likely looked like...amd it isnt this dude

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

Could be.......although his hair would NEVER have been that long.

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

An anthropology team did a reconstruction of what Jesus would have looked like and it was nothing like that..He probably had short hair and was likely to have been clean shaven for a start. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-35120965

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

Almost all representations of Jesus "mysteriously" resemble the artist's sponsor or ruler. In 2001 forensic anthropologist Richard Neave created a model of a Galilean man for a BBC documentary, Son of God, working on the basis of an actual skull found in the region. He did not claim it was Jesus's face. It was simply meant to prompt people to consider Jesus as being a man of his time and place, since we are never told he looked distinctive. https://images.app.goo.gl/hwBjdtxbWGoapHCV7 87264971_j...fd1b0d.jpg 87264971_jesus_bbc-5efc1a4fd1b0d.jpg

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

there is scientific proof that he existed. He's an actual historical figure, search it up if u want to.

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Eric Mac Fadden
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3 years ago

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He's kinda Bin Laden's relative.... and it's more true than some European Renascence handy painter....

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matthew owen
Community Member
3 years ago

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yeah, cos there were loads of white blokes wandering around the middle east being Jewish back then....

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Nia Loves Art
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

He looks Middle Eastern in this picture, he just doesn’t fit your stereotypes.

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He started experimenting with creating images by using generative adversarial neural networks, because he thinks it will one day be the "successor to photography." "These 'Deep Learning' networks are trained with thousands of photographs of human faces and are able to create near-photorealistic people from scratch or fit uploaded faces in a 'Latent Space' of a total of everything the model has learned."

#6

Napoleon

Napoleon

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Artbreeder, Bas's program of choice, uses artificial intelligence and neural networks to create near-photorealistic images based on his input combined with what it knows about how faces look and how light behaves in photography. "I try to do everything as procedural as possible and let the AI do the most work, but sometimes I need to cheat a little in Photoshop because these GANs don't do clothes or classical hairstyles yet."

#9

Frankenstein's Monster

Frankenstein's Monster

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#10

Sandro Botticelli

Sandro Botticelli

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"Although I see my creations more as artistic impressions than as scientifically justified, in some cases, the results for me feel much closer to reality than most other methods that are used in reconstructions of people so far," Bas expressed. They say that a portrait artist's main goal isn't getting the little details right, but capturing the "essence" of the person's character. Do you think Bas has managed to achieve that? Tell us in the comments!

#13

George Washington

George Washington

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#14

Fayum Mummy Portraits

Fayum Mummy Portraits

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Eulalie Grace
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I love Fayum Mummy portraits. Very Romanesque - because they were. So much like the portraits found in Pompeii

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#15

Fayum Mummy Portraits

Fayum Mummy Portraits

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#17

Elizabeth I, Queen Of England

Elizabeth I, Queen Of England

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Jordan Westall
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It doesn’t look like the artist did anything different from the original painting

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