AI Reveals the Spy in the Canvas:
-A CANVAS OF SECRETS-
non-fiction background
This nonfiction narrative unfolds around a captivating painting, recently rediscovered in a Prague wine cellar, and reveals how cutting-edge AI technology exposed a century-old secret concealed within the artwork. Captivated by the painting in the cellar, an ex-IBM avid traveler acquires it, unaware of its historical significance, and shares photos of the painting with IBM colleagues. Clayton, a former IBM colleague with expertise in machine-learning AI and an amateur history enthusiast, becomes intrigued by the painting and suspects it might depict clues about someone of historical significance. Utilizing advanced GPT-AI technologies on NVIDIA, Clayton analyzes the enigmatic painting and cross-references international historical archives, verifying the captivating woman depicted is likely a famous alleged spy from WWI. The concise story traces the research journey, exploring the destinations, the application of AI technology, and the background of the portrait's subject and her execution. It reveals how a vibrant, self-made celebrity, known for her erotic essence, was immortalized on canvas by a renowned Czech artist. Ongoing research and analysis are still underway to investigate potential clues on the reverse side of the canvas and frame. The subsequent pages offer a preview of the research and the findings.
the painting
"Portrait of a mesmerizing woman"
Oil on canvas in its original frame by Czech artist, Otto Peters. Believed to have been commissioned sometime between 1905 and 1911. The subject: a confident mesmerizing woman, her gaze locked in a mirror, adorned in her signature boa and purple thigh highs. Size: 104.1cm x 91.4cm
Prague wine cellar (location of painting)
The painting was uncovered in a wine cellar at a restaurant in Prague, known simply as 'Zlaty Had,' which translates to 'Golden Snake.' Zlaty Had is noted in the private journals of many avid travelers and foodies for its exceptional cuisine and unparalleled Prague ambiance. The owner of the restaurant, Vlastimil, had stored the artwork in his wine cellar. Vlastimil stated that he acquired the painting about forty years ago as a young man, from an antique art dealer in Brno, Czech Republic. The art dealer had acquired it from 'The First Czech Republic Club,' where it had been held since World War I for safekeeping. Vlastimil stated that he was unaware of the artist or the subject in the portrait, but forty years earlier, the painting had spoken to him. The unnamed female purchaser of the artwork simply stated, "the painting captivated me; its portrayal of a woman was mesmerizing, her confidence and allure seemingly transcending the canvas. It spoke to me. It speaks to everyone on a level beyond words, and I was completely unaware of any historical relevance."
AI reveals the identity
The Inspection: Upon close inspection, the canvas showed subtle scars, particularly around the heart and genital areas of the portrait, and appeared to have been professionally repaired about a century earlier. This damage, speculated to be the result of a jealous lover or WWI spite, added another layer to the painting's mystery. The canvas had survived two world wars, concealed in shelters and a wine cellar, before being rediscovered. When Clayton first inspected the painting, he recognized the woman's image as vaguely familiar. After researching Czech and European historical archives and soliciting guidance from art historians about Otto Peters' life and work, he created a database utilizing early 20th-century celebrities and historical figures. Next, he cross-referenced the enigmatic painting against an extensive database of global celebrities and historical figures using facial recognition AI algorithms. The results were astonishing, a high-confidence match with known photos of the famous spy, Mata Hari.
Otto's early 1900's Painting
Historical Photos of Mata Hari
Merged Image
AI Analysis of Portrait
AI Analysis of Photo
+ 84% Probability of Match
Minor Deviation due to artist Artistic Lens
Mata Hari's story is truly remarkable, evolving from that of a battered wife to a global celebrity, and from being manipulated by European officials to her eventual execution. After ingesting vast amounts of content, the AI systems suggested that she would be regarded as a feminist today and would be comparable in stature to the modern-day Madonna.
Margaretha Geertruida MacLeod, (1876 - 1917) was known by her stage name Mata Hari, was a woman of enigma and allure. Born in the Netherlands, she reinvented herself in Paris, capturing the attention of Europe's elite. Her life took a dark turn during World War I when she was accused of being a double agent and executed by firing squad in 1917. Demonstrating her composure and defiance in the face of death, the historical narrative is she refused a blindfold and indeed did blow a kiss to the firing squad before her execution. The painting by Otto Peters, believed to have been commissioned between 1905 and 1911, captures Mata Hari in her prime exuding confidence and an allure without the need for explicit nudity. The Otto Peters oil base portrait of Mata Hari is thought to be the second known original portrait of her in existence.
Closer inspection of the portrait revealed that Otto was able to capture her eyes and her asymmetrical eyebrows in great detail:
the research and the journey
The research began in Prague, extended to the Netherlands, then concluded back in Prague. Here are few of the locations our research led us:
the Prague restaurant Zlaty HAD the Maiselova Synagogue in Prague
the Prague National Gallery collections the Fries Museum in Netherlands
the Prague Castle collections Charles University
the Hřbitov Praha-Smíchov (Malvazinky) many historical archives
Prague Cemetery
Prague
Charles University, Art History
Otto Peters
Netherlands
the artist
Otto Peters, a Czech artist born 1882, skilled in capturing the likeness and character of his subjects, emerges as a character in his own right whose works adorned National Galleries, private collections, the Prague Castle, and the artist connection to the exotic spy suggests an untold story. The painting, "a mesmerizing woman" is testament to the artist skill, captures not only the physical likeness of the spy but also her essence as a self-assured, self-made woman, akin to a global modern-day celebrity such as perhaps a Kardashian. When the painting was commissioned, Otto would have been in his mid-twenties, and the subject in the portrait in her early thirties. Sadly, two world wars ravished many of the great talented artist across Eastern Europe. Video of artist in his Prague studio.
otto-peters_muz-se-cvikrem
Mata Hari Portrait by Otto Peters
