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What If Bragolin’s Crying Children Smiled? I Used AI to Find Out (16 Pics)
If you grew up in the ‘70s or ‘80s, you’ve probably come across the haunting Crying Children Paintings by Giovanni Bragolin. These artworks, with their sorrowful gazes and melancholic expressions, left a lasting impression and sparked eerie legends of curses and unexplained misfortunes.
But what if this story could have a different ending?
Thanks to technology and artificial intelligence, these children can now smile! Their once-tragic expressions have been transformed into joyful faces, offering a fresh perspective on Bragolin’s work and proving that even art can evolve with time, revealing new emotions and meanings.
More info: Instagram
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Giovanni Bragolin, whose real name was Bruno Amadio, was an Italian painter born in 1911. His paintings became famous not only for their masterful technique but also for the eerie myths surrounding them. According to legend, Bragolin’s series depicted orphans from World War II, and over time, these images became linked to strange occurrences—most notably, fires breaking out in homes where the paintings were displayed.
Whether these stories were real or simply urban legends, we may never know. But one thing is certain: decades later, these children—at least in art—have finally found happiness. And perhaps, that’s a reminder that even in the darkest tales, there is always room for a little light.
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What do you think ?
arthbach 1 month ago
Instead of using AI to 'create' art, or change art that's already been produced, please make your own. AI is brilliant at many things, but let's not ascribe any creativity to it. Humans are the creatives, not AI. Art is made by creatives, not by computer programmes.
Hidrėlėy (Post author) 1 month ago
Thank you for your comment! I understand your concern — it's a valid point, especially when it comes to valuing human creativity. But the goal of this video series wasn’t to replace art, but to use AI as a tool to gently transform Bragolin’s sad, heavy portraits into something lighter and more comforting. AI here works like a paintbrush or a camera — not to *create* new art, but to reinterpret something existing in a way that brought joy to thousands. In a time when AI is often misused — through deepfakes and disinformation — using it to spread hope and healing felt like the right path. And yes, creativity is human. AI has no soul. But the intention, the vision, the sensitivity to turn something dark into light — that comes from us. That was the heart behind this project.
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Lady Eowyn 1 month ago
Just why? What's the point? Why do these portraits need to be lighter and more comforting? There was a point to them being painted the way they were.
arthbach 1 month ago
Instead of using AI to 'create' art, or change art that's already been produced, please make your own. AI is brilliant at many things, but let's not ascribe any creativity to it. Humans are the creatives, not AI. Art is made by creatives, not by computer programmes.
Hidrėlėy (Post author) 1 month ago
Thank you for your comment! I understand your concern — it's a valid point, especially when it comes to valuing human creativity. But the goal of this video series wasn’t to replace art, but to use AI as a tool to gently transform Bragolin’s sad, heavy portraits into something lighter and more comforting. AI here works like a paintbrush or a camera — not to *create* new art, but to reinterpret something existing in a way that brought joy to thousands. In a time when AI is often misused — through deepfakes and disinformation — using it to spread hope and healing felt like the right path. And yes, creativity is human. AI has no soul. But the intention, the vision, the sensitivity to turn something dark into light — that comes from us. That was the heart behind this project.
Load More Replies... Lady Eowyn 1 month ago
Just why? What's the point? Why do these portraits need to be lighter and more comforting? There was a point to them being painted the way they were.
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