Vik Muniz's 'Verso' Project Reveals the Hidden Backs of Masterpieces at Mauritshuis

Brazilian artist Vik Muniz (São Paulo, 1961) has spent about fifteen years on his project 'Verso', photographically reproducing the backs of famous paintings with obsessive fidelity. The project, which includes works like Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa, Vincent van Gogh's The Starry Night, and Pablo Picasso's Les Demoiselles d'Avignon, is now on view in its entirety for the first time at the Mauritshuis Museum in The Hague. For the exhibition, Muniz created five new 'versos' based on works from the museum's collection, including Vermeer's Girl with a Pearl Earring, Fabritius's The Goldfinch, and Rembrandt's The Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Nicolaes Tulp. The show runs until September 4. Muniz and his team use ultra-high-resolution photographs, often taking years to acquire, then meticulously reproduce every detail, including labels and damage, using materials similar to the originals. The exhibition allows visitors to see both the front and back of these masterpieces simultaneously.