30 August 2013

Reliefography, a new technology which allows to create (almost) perfect 3D art replicas

Relievo 'Sunflowers', Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam. Photo: Fujifilm

Relievo 'Sunflowers', back, Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam. Photo: Fujifilm

Relievo 'Sunflowers', detail, Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam. Photo: Fujifilm

Amsterdam's Van Gogh Museum, together with the Belgian branch of Fujifilm, announced the launch of a technology which allows to reproduce a paint with virtually no inconsintences when compared to the original one.

The technology, named Reliefography, consist in an encompassing three-dimensional scanning, digital imaging and printing technology, that are brought together to reproduce the textured detail of Van Gogh's artworks in accurate colour. 

The output of this technique is called Relievo, a three-dimensional replica of Van Gogh masterpieces. The originals are recreated in size, colour, brightness and textures. Even the frame and the label are accurately recreated, in order to achieve an ultimate fine-art reproduction (see left).

As stated by Axel Rüger, Director of the Van Gogh Museum comments:  "Considering current developments regarding the 3D printing process, the creation of a three-dimensional reproduction is an exciting but, most of all, logical new step. By means of Relievos, availability and accessibility of the works of art can be enhanced, which gives the Van Gogh Museum the opportunity to realise its mission to inspire and enrich as large an audience as possible."

This technology is for the moment applied just to five of Van Gogh's masterpieces, namely Almond Blossom (1890), Sunflowers (1889), The Harvest (1888), Wheatfield under Thunderclouds (1890) and Boulevard de Clichy (1887). 

The application of this brand-new technology is for the moment commercial-only, but broader (and perhaps more effective) applications are already in sight. Relievo's based reproduction can, in fact, be used in schools and in universities, as well as a means to help visually empaired persons to experience paintings, as we previously described here.

Stefano Sbarbati