AI recreates lost 19th-century painting by Estonian artist Johann Köler in Viljandi
The Viljandi Museum in Estonia is showing a reproduction of Johann Köler's lost 1864 painting, recreated with AI from a single black-and-white photograph. Exhibitions marking the artist's 200th birth anniversary have drawn large crowds this year.
A reproduction of a long-lost painting has gone on display at the Viljandi Museum in Estonia, recreated with the help of artificial intelligence from a single black-and-white photograph. The original is "Waking from Charmed Sleep" ("Ärkamine nõidusunest"), painted in 1864 by Estonian artist Johann Köler. It measures 4.3 by 3.2 meters. The reproduction remained on view at the museum on Sunday.
A politically charged work
Viljandi Museum exhibition curator Kristjan Mändmaa describes the painting as politically charged, pointing to the fact that native Estonians did not own land under Baltic German rule. It shows a German nobleman opening a tomb and reaching for an amulet worn by an Estonian woman, who represents a people emerging from 700 years of serfdom. According to Mändmaa, the amulet symbolizes Estonian land, which Baltic Germans largely controlled at the time.
"Köler saw this as a tremendous injustice, and this was his way of fighting against it," the curator said.
When first shown, the work caused a major scandal and prompted furious reactions and threats from the Baltic German press. Mändmaa said a legend holds that the Baltic Germans somehow arranged for the painting to be destroyed, which would explain its disappearance.
Anniversary exhibitions draw crowds
Viljandi Museum program director Signe Susi said three major exhibitions marking the 200th anniversary of the birth of Estonia's first professional artist attracted large crowds to Viljandi this year. The Kondas Center received nearly 11,000 visitors and Rüki Gallery 2,500, while the Viljandi Museum itself expects more than 13,000.
Music educator and orchestra conductor Harry Illak, who also took part in events marking Köler's 190th anniversary, said his interest in the artist's life and work has only grown since then. He said his understanding of Köler and his work has changed considerably compared with ten years ago.
