1642

Class 01 | 01/31/2024

Prototype

The initial concept of filling the hidden figures and background was to employ AI and machine learning. However, my initial tests yielded results that were far from satisfactory. Upon reflection, I realized that attempting to replicate Rembrandt's painting style precisely wouldn't sufficiently engage the audience since each audience has their own perspective to the painting. Moreover, palely mimicking Rembrandt’s technique digitally felt inappropriate for a thesis project. A conversation with Louise Rice from NYU's Department of History was enlightening; she shared a video (below) that suggested adopting a playful and fun approach for the film. This idea resonates with my ongoing project, 'lol.portraits,' where I draw portraits for people with amateur lines. The relationship between these simple lines and Rembrandt’s grand color schemes will create a stark contrast between contemporary and traditional art. This juxtaposition has always fascinated me — exploring how to represent an Old Master's painting in a playful, amateur manner and contrasting these two styles. This approach allows me to inject my own perspective into the process. Nevertheless, it's crucial that the original painting, Rembrandt's 'The Night Watch,' be ultimately displayed unaltered — as a gesture of celebration, homage, and utmost respect to the Old Masters in Dutch Golden Age.

In the video below, the line drawings were created using Photoshop and Illustrator. A 31-second animation was developed in After Effects, accompanied by the Dutch war song 'Merck toch hoe sterck,' composed between 1622 and 1625 by Adriaen Valerius (who also adapted 'Wilhelmus,' the Dutch national anthem). The drawing of the hall was referred from the painting itself and the research and illustration from Gary Schwartz’s book, 'The Night Watch.' What I've completed is a preliminary prototype. The final projection is envisioned to be longer and slower. Over the coming two weeks, I plan to explore additional methods to represent the painting.