What makes a masterpiece touch us in a way that a reproduction cannot?

That is the question an interesting study by the Mauritshuis in The Hague sought to answer. Now that we see digital copies and posters everywhere, the museum wanted to know whether real paintings touch us more than copies. The results show how connected we are to art, both in our minds and hearts.

To find out more, they used advanced brain scanning technology to measure participants' brain activity while looking at five famous paintings, including Vermeer's The Girl with the Pearl Earring. And the results were stunning - people's brains responded much more to the originals than to the posters.

Vermeer's mystery girl made people feel very positive, but her poster version made them feel negative. The study suggests that this is because the texture, details and ‘aura’ of the original art cannot be captured on a poster.

MRI scans showed increased activity in brain regions related to self-reflection and emotional confidence when people looked at the originals, which made the intrigue deeper. Vermeer's masterpiece fascinated in particular and showed an extraordinary phenomenon called a ‘visual loop’. The participants' eyes moved seamlessly between her gaze, her lips and her pearl, creating a hypnotic rhythm of attention.

Was this intentional genius or an unintentional mystery? We may never know, but the mystery only adds to why it is so powerful.

This research shows us why real art is so important. Reproductions can give you access, but they cannot recreate the deep connection you feel with an original. The rough textures, soft brushstrokes and mysterious presence touch something deep within us and create a bond that transcends time and space.

Real art not only invites us to look but also challenges us to feel, creating an experience that no reproduction can imitate.

Source: The Standard 3 October 2024

To create meaningful art, artists need to step back and reflect on themselves. Self-reflection is our guide through the big, messy world of human expression. I have learnt that the best art is created when you are true to yourself. To be authentic, you have to confront your identity, fears, dreams and experiences.
When I sit down with my sketchpad, I often find that the act of creating reveals new layers of myself that I had not yet recognised. One day, for example, I had a realisation. I saw how much my work was shaped by my desire for connection - a need I was not even aware of. This realisation not only changed my art; it also helped me look at the different sides of myself that I was too afraid to face.
If you are a creative looking for your own unique voice, self-reflection is the place to start. It makes us think about things like why we create and what we are trying to say. It may take some time to find the answers, but they are the key to authenticity.
If you want to bring self-reflection into your creative process, it's best to start with a form of journal. Keep track of your thoughts, ideas and feelings. Look at your past work and consider how it shows your development. Show your art to other people and see how they react. This also shows what you want to achieve.
Ultimately, self-reflection helps us understand ourselves and others better. When we understand ourselves, we create art that people can identify with.
This helps us connect with our audience in a deeper way.

How colour affects our emotions
Art does not just make a space look good. It tells stories, evokes emotions and transforms interiors into meaningful sanctuaries.
Colour is the heart and soul of art and influences the emotions a space evokes.
It gives you comfort, energy and inspiration and it is the silent architect of mood. Colour speaks volumes with its own eloquent language. Think of Rothko's haunting shades of red that make you think, or the soft pastels of impressionist gardens that make you feel calm and serene.
Colours are always active.
They bring life to art and connect with the spirit of a space and its people. When it comes to interior design, colours are more than just an artistic choice - they can actually influence how a space feels. Warm tones like red and yellow give dining rooms a real energy boost. They make people talk and make rooms feel cosy. Cool tones (blue, green) are great for bedrooms and other quiet, serene spaces. Neutral tones (such as taupe and cream) help create a balanced look that makes textures and small details stand out. By combining art with carefully chosen colours, you can create a space that feels vibrant, calm or timelessly elegant. From an office with a touch of bold pop art to a zen-like bedroom with soft ocean tones, a thoughtful mix of colour and art can really bring a space to life.
How to choose art for your space?
1. Think about your colour scheme - make sure the art you choose matches existing shades.
2. Look at the light - see how the art looks in natural and artificial light.
3. Think about the space - make it lively or calm, depending on what you want to use the room for.
4. Mix it up - strong contrasts create interest.
5. Choose what you love - choose something that appeals to you emotionally.
Decide
Art and its colours are more than just a pretty face - they reflect our identity, the stories we live and the emotions we cherish.

The collection, titled "Echoes of Innocence", is more than a series of paintings - it is a deeply personal exploration of my connection with my own childhood. Each piece is a reflection of the moments that shaped me, moments full of wonder, simplicity and unfiltered joy. With these works, I tried to capture the essence of my earliest memories, distilling the purity and innocence of childhood into vibrant colours and tender brushstrokes.
Creating this collection was both an act of introspection and a gift I wanted to share with others. My own childhood, characterised by carefree discoveries and uninhibited laughter, serves as the basis for these paintings. Each brushstroke feels like I am reliving a part of myself that I had almost forgotten, a part that reminds me to view life with the same sense of awe and curiosity.
With "Echoes of Innocence", I hope to evoke a sense of nostalgia in everyone who views the collection. I want to invite viewers to step into their own memories, to reconnect with the warmth of their own precious moments. These paintings are both my story and, I hope, a mirror for others - a gentle reminder to cherish and celebrate the simplicity and beauty of times gone by.

For me, painting is more than a process - it is an expression of my inner world.
Whether through the familiar textures of traditional painting or the infinite possibilities of digital art, I explore the duality of timeless emotion and modern innovation.

For me, making art is an inescapable expression of who I am - a deep conversation between my soul and the world around me. Each medium, be it traditional painting or the limitless possibilities of digital art, becomes a vessel to explore and share my inner universe. Both forms carry the essence of timeless emotion interwoven with modern innovation, with each brushstroke or keystroke reflecting not only my perspective, but the shared humanity we all experience. The process of creation is as important to me as the final product. Traditional painting has taught me to embrace imperfection. I see each mistake not as a failure, but as an opportunity to change the story. A misplaced line or an unplanned stain becomes a moment of growth, teaching me patience and resilience with each layer added to the canvas. It humbles me and grounds me in the tangible reality of creation-the texture of the canvas, the swirl of paint, the weight of the brush in my hand.

Digital art, on the other hand, invites me to experiment freely. The ability to undo a misstep with the click of a mouse gives me permission to explore without reservation, to push boundaries I might otherwise fear. Each layer I build digitally feels like a new dimension of discovery, a space where ideas can evolve endlessly until their essence finally takes shape. It is a playground of innovation that complements the grounded approach of traditional painting.
For me, art is a bridge. It connects emotion with experience, the artist with the viewer, and ultimately humanity itself.

Whether through the grains of a canvas or the glow of a digital screen, my only hope remains the same - that my work will be seen.

Jan

janketeleer.com

This digital painting captures the elusive beauty of the underwater world—a realm where time seems suspended, and reality becomes fluid. Portrayed is a young girl in a seated position beneath the water’s surface, enveloped by a symphony of shimmering air bubbles that dance around her. The contrast within the scene is intentional; the tranquil stability of her pose is set against the restless dynamism of the bubbles. Together, they reflect life’s delicate balance of inner peace and outer turmoil.  

Through a palette of cool, soothing blues, the vastness and serenity of the underwater realm come alive, inviting the viewer into its depths. To counterbalance this calm, the radiant sparkle of the bubbles bursts with life, adding movement and vitality to the composition. These elements work in harmony, creating both stillness and energy.  

Emotionally, this piece seeks to drown out the noise of daily life, offering the viewer a moment of contemplative calm. Yet, the movement within the bubbles serves as a gentle reminder of life’s vibrancy and unpredictability. My hope is that this painting leaves a lingering imprint of serenity, inviting the viewer to breathe, to wonder, and perhaps for a moment, to simply exist within its quiet magic.

Through this collection, I immerse myself in the profound stories of the fisherwomen of Africa—a symphony of strength and resilience painted onto canvas. These women, who rise before dawn to support their families, inspire me with their steadfast determination and perseverance. Their lives, woven with daily challenges and triumphs, are a testament to the extraordinary beauty found in the ordinary.

The vibrant interplay of colors and textures in each painting echoes their world. Sunlight dances on the waves as a backdrop to their labor, the hues of the markets and fabrics reflecting their vibrancy and cultural heritage. I have layered brushstrokes to render the raw intensity of their emotions, from pride and exhaustion to joy and camaraderie. By combining bold, sweeping strokes with intricate, delicate details, I aim to capture not just their physical environment, but also the depths of their inner lives.

Each piece pulses with the rhythm of their lives—stories of endurance, dedication, and a fierce connection to community. This collection is my homage to them, a call to honor their quiet heroism. It is my hope that viewers feel not only admiration but also a sense of unity, recognizing the shared humanity that binds us all.

Magnum photographer Carl De Keyzer has published a revolutionary photo book that redefines the relationship between photography and reality. In a bold departure from traditional techniques, his work raises profound questions about the nature of his craft. De Keyzer was initially tempted to inscribe the text "This is not a photograph" on the cover of the book, but eventually decided against it, believing it to be "too obvious". His decision to design the book exclusively with AI-generated images, however, sparked a furore and flooded his inbox with criticism. De Keyzer, known for his captivating visual stories, has shifted his artistic focus. Instead of documenting the world as it is, he explores the ease with which it can be imagined or invented. None of the images in this collection come from the lens of his camera. Instead, they are the product of artificial intelligence, with De Keyzer's primary role reduced to the click of a mouse.

For an audience rooted in an era when photography meant authenticity, this shift feels disorienting. De Keyzer breaks through the comfort of photography as unequivocal truth. His work sharpens the disturbing realisation that images, once sacred vessels of truth, have lost their reliability. The old adage "Seeing is believing" no longer holds true. The era of relying on images as evidence is over and has been replaced by deep scepticism. De Keyzer's AI experiments not only challenge the credibility of photography, but also force us to face a world where truth itself feels malleable. Amid rising fake news and disinformation, his work underscores the fragility of visual journalism. The manipulated image, increasingly indistinguishable from reality, signals a societal shift where trust dissolves into doubt. De Keyzer's collection is not nihilistic, but a sharp reminder of vigilance in a rapidly changing visual landscape. He calls us to question both the images presented and the intentions behind them. For without truth, deception becomes power - a reality as oppressive as his lifelike, AI-created images.

JanKeteleer.com

From my canvas emerges a world where the essence of boyhood is delicately captured—its fleeting innocence, mischievous laughter, and quiet moments of introspection. This collection is my homage to youth, a time when the weight of the world had not yet settled and every day seemed endless.

Each painting holds a fragment of shared memories, inspired by intimate conversations with friends and acquaintances who, like me, recall their childhoods with a mixture of longing and warmth. These stories—universal yet deeply personal—became my palette, urging me to explore the unspoken emotions and nostalgia that linger within all of us.

Through soft, dreamlike hues and textured strokes, I sought to immortalize the resilience, wonder, and vulnerability of those formative years. A boy running through fields with abandon, the quiet stare of one lost in thought, or a group of friends laughing under fading sunlight—every piece invites the viewer to reconnect with their own stories of youth.

This collection is a bridge between the past and present, a shared reflection for art lovers who seek not only beauty in form but also a deeper connection to the feelings that mold us. It is my hope that these paintings evoke memories, smiles, and perhaps even a tear—reminding us all of the boy who still lives within.

The collection is a labour of love, deeply inspired by the tender nostalgia of rain-soaked days and the emotions they evoke. Each painting serves as a window into moments of calm and reflection, much like the memories I keep from my own childhood - watching raindrops draw patterns on glass as the world outside softens into muted hues. These rainy days, with their mix of melancholy and tranquillity, are a constant source of creative energy for me. With this series, I want to summarise the universal bond we share with rain, which transcends time and experience. Rain has a unique way of drawing us in and evoking memories we had forgotten we were carrying. The muted colour palettes and fine brush strokes in my work are conscious choices, meant to reflect the muted tones and fluid movement of rain itself. From gentle drizzle washing over misty landscapes to torrential rain that turns streets into flowing rivers, the collection captures the myriad faces of rain and the moods it inspires.