Data visualisation has come a long way. From being quite mechanistic to artistic. But never as true art. Data visualisation was mainly about making data look more beautiful.

The Next Rembrandt fundamentally changes this.

Bringing back to life one of the greatest Masters of all time. Only this time, data is the painter and technology the brush.

All of Rembrandt’s 346 paintings were analysed using 3D scans and digital files, upscaled by a deep learning algorithm for maximum resolution.

Facial recognition software was designed to understand Rembrandt’s style and use those learnings to generate new facial features, which were assembled based on his use of geometrical proportions.

Once the 2D image was complete, a height map was created to mimic Rembrandt’s brushstrokes. The file was brought to life through an advanced 3D printer.

On the 5th April 2016, The Next Rembrandt was unveiled in Amsterdam and nextrembrandt.com went live.

Once the painting was framed, we started by inviting various experts from the art and tech world, the international press and the general public to the unveiling and exhibition of The Next Rembrandt in Amsterdam.

A modern art gallery was transformed into an exhibition space with big screens with the actual algorithms at work, playing behind the easel with the painting, made out of zero’s and ones.

This special gallery was the place where the story started.

Via an online launch film, people all over the world were invited to nextrembrandt.com, where they could dive deeper into the process of creating the digital painting.

Knowing that effective data visualisation was of high importance in understanding the background of ‘The Next Rembrandt’ project, we designed a visual style that would serve both the purpose in helping to understand complex data processes, as well as stimulating the viewer's imagination to increase engagement through the story behind creating ‘The Next Rembrandt’.

In a simultaneous process of visual design and animation based on the story’s narrative, we have used artisanally, classical, technical drawings as the base for creating the visualisation style. By using strict rules in creating line graphics (0°, 45°, 90° and arc shaped lines), we have designed and animated visually provoking data visualisations with a high conversion of our data story.

The visual style was also used in a 20 minute documentary that added another layer to the campaign focussing on the battle of man versus machine. Inviting people to join the global conversation about the fading boundaries between technology and humanity.

About ING’s innovation defying imagination.