In the Eye of the AI: Reimagining Landscapes Through Iconic Art Movements

4 min readMay 31, 2023

As our we witnesses an increasingly intriguing intersection of art and artificial intelligence, I embarked on a study to explore the application of stylistic elements in AI-generated imagery. This study was conducted at the scenic Catwalk Art Residency in Catskill, NY, offering serene views of the Hudson River and the Rip Van Winkle Bridge. These picturesque views served as the basis for my work with a text-to-image generative AI platform, Mid Journey.

At the heart of this study, I posed a central question: how would an AI interpret a scenic description and then reinterpret the produced image through the lens of various artistic styles? I explored a broad range of styles across different eras and art movements, including cubism, art deco, contemporary art, modern art, comic book illustration, and surrealism.

I did not let the AI handle this complex task alone. Instead, it was guided by the styles and works of several distinguished artists, including Salvador Dali, Tamara de Lempicka, Claude Monet, Banksy, and Beeple. Each of these artists, remarkable in their respective domains, served as a rich source of inspiration for the AI. Consequently, the AI’s task was not just to mimic the visual aesthetics of these artists, but also to attempt to capture the emotional depth and complexity associated with each artistic style.

Starting below, you will find the initial output from the AI, where the sole request was to generate a photorealistic rendition of the scene. This image serves as the foundation, the raw material upon which all subsequent stylistic transformations are built. As you continue scrolling, you’ll delve into a series of stylistic reinterpretations, each reflecting the unique artistic flair of the movements and artists that inspired them. Each successive image showcases the AI’s attempt to capture and recreate these distinctive styles, offering an intriguing perspective into the intersection of art, technology, and human creativity.

Base Prompt: Generate an image showcasing a grand bridge that transitions from the foreground to the background. The bridge should be part of a mountainous landscape in the Hudson Valley, New York and go over a river. Tree line view. Trees in foreground. Early summer. Afternoon light. Rule of thirds. Photograph. — aspect 7:4