When Images Remain

“The language is the entire nation, provided that by language we understand not only spoken and written words, but all means of expression of a people's character. Painting has for centuries been the language of the Netherlands par excellence. Painting is the art of individual passion; it defines the individual. When the work of painters from a nation comes together into a school, that school defines the nation whose language it speaks.”

“De taal is gansch het volk, indien onder taal niet enkel spreek- en schrijftaal worden verstaan, maar alle uitdrukkingsmiddelen van een volkskarakter. De schilderkunst is sinds eeuwen de taal der Nederlanden bij uitnemendheid. De schilderkunst is de kunst der individueele passie, zij definieert het individu. Bundelt zich de schildersarbeid van een volk tot een school, dan definieert die school het volk, wiens taal zij spreekt.”

“De taal is gansch het volk” (Luns, 1941)

[ChatGPT’s interpretation of ‘Act 3’]

Whereas text can be fact-checked, the verification of images and imagery is much more challenging. Interpreting images without (accompanying) text is even more difficult.

Take TU Delft's collection of glass slides, for example. Marked as heritage, the collection’s historical importance is well established. But for whom and why? And for how long? How reliable/complete is a history based only on images? 

The slides that were generally used in education between 1900 and 1950 are a snapshot in a time that continues irrevocably. 

From different perspectives/by connecting different perspectives, what can we learn from these images today but also in the future? 

(ORIGINAL CONCEPT) Reframing the Perception of Art in Education at TU Delft

Knowledge is largely transmitted in school and university through text. Images are used to illustrate or clarify what has been described. 

In literature, the use of visual language delivers associative experience to the reader. Historical biographies can capture the imagination without even using images. Whereas text can be fact-checked, the verification of images and imagery is much more challenging. 

RESPONSE: The output was flagged by our content filter as inappropriate. Please modify the prompt and try again.

PROMPT: A painted puffer coat by Johannes Vermeer.

PROMPT: A cat universe painted by Rubens.

PROMPT: An entrance to a wormhole painted by Rembrandt.

By harnessing diverse perspectives and forging interdisciplinary connections, this study seeks to unravel the contemporary and future lessons embedded within these images. It prompts us to reevaluate how we can more effectively harness the intrinsic power of images in facilitating knowledge transfer and nurturing scientific and social competencies, notably communication.

The integration of the ‘infinite image’ tool from Runway ML’s ‘AI Magic Tools,’ guided by a non-human creator, extends and intertwines backgrounds, giving rise to novel focal points and uncharted realms within the images. This ‘act’ of transformation generates an ‘in between’ space that overlays the curated grid, catalyzing the emergence of fresh perspectives and unexpected connections, thereby blurring the conventional demarcation between background and foreground.

Drawing inspiration from artist John Baldessari’s assertion that one should “look between” two things, this study elucidates the coalescence of images and text as a means to explore the uncharted territories that lie in the interstices of visual narratives.

How can we (better) exploit the importance of images in knowledge transfer and as a building block for both scientific and social skills?