By closely examining the work of the great Dutch painter Rembrandt van Rijn (1606-1669), a team of data analysts were able to extrapolate what a painting of his would look like. Surface texture was scanned, composition was measured, pigments were studied. Using algorithms and a 3D printer, The Next Rembrandt was brought to life, as if the master himself had painted it four centuries ago.
How can big data and cutting edge technology be incorporated in the creation and appreciation of art? The Next Rembrandt is a project that connects Rembrandt’s genius with today’s knowledge. The end result is not just a unique painting that is both of the 17th and the 21st century. It allows insights into the long-gone mind of a legendary artist, and also poses questions about the possibilities and limitations of art and technology today.
The Next Rembrandt is the brainchild of creative director Bas Korsten of J. Walter Thompson, and was developed for ING Bank together with Microsoft, Delft University of Technology, the Mauritshuis in The Hague and the Rembrandt House Museum in Amsterdam.
