Selfie culture has become an inescapable part of modern life. It has slowly become a significant part of our social life as a way for individuals to express themselves, document their daily lives as well as showcase their creativity. As such, it impacted all levels of society, with many celebrities and public figures regularly sharing selfies on their social media accounts. But what if selfies existed long before the modern era?
One Twitter user @ThrungTPhan shared a rather amusing yet stunning thread of photos of historical figures’ selfies. The thread has since gained 4.3 million views! These arts were generated by an AI program called MidJourney and they are the work of Duncan Thomsen.
The Last Supper
Duncan recreated ‘The Last Supper’ showcasing the famous Leonardo da Vinci work of art. The painting shows Jesus Christ and his disciples gathered around a table, with Jesus in the centre. As you can see, each figure is depicted with a distinct expression and gesture. He also provided one more selfie (that is not on the table setting) to this thread.
Napoleon and Troops at Waterloo (1815)
Image | Duncan Thomsen
The Battle of Waterloo was fought on June 18, 1815 near the town called, well, Waterloo. It was the final battle of the Napoleonic Wars. The smiling figure in the middle bears a resemblance to Napoleon Bonaparte, the French military commander and political leader and behind him were his troops.
Neanderthals (Stone Age)
Image | Duncan Thomsen
Ever wonder what it’s like for our ancestors to look like in a selfie? Wonder no more. Duncan’s creative mind works incredibly in recreating the extinct variation of the human species. From this photo, we can see their physical characteristics i.e. receding forehead, prominent brow ridges and robust build.
Queen Elizabeth (late-1500s)
Image | Duncan Thomsen
Queen Elizabeth, I was known for her extravagant and highly stylized fashion. This is to reflect the opulence and grandeur of her reign. Her clothing was often highly ornate, with intricate embroidery, jewels and brightly coloured gowns. Duncan did a great job in recreating this look!
Cleopatra (50BC)
Image | Duncan Thomsen
Similar to Queen Elizabeth I, Cleopatra also was known for her extravagant choice of fashion. In this photo, you can see her adorning an elaborate headwear which seemed like either a cobra or vulture design. Is it a cobra? A vulture? You decide.
According to Phan, Duncan spent a month working on the formula of clues, language and photographic elements to give these photos the selfie effect. Phew! What a patient guy!
