For countless generations, Western art has given us a particular image of Jesus – tall and with fair features. Yet, historians tend to agree that Jesus’s appearance was more like that of the local people in ancient Palestine: shorter, more robust, with dark curly hair.

An intriguing new portrayal of Jesus has emerged, thanks to the creative efforts of Bas Uterwijk, who used cutting-edge AI technology. He combined a variety of cultural depictions, altering features for a more historically accurate representation.

In discussing his method, Uterwijk shared, “I used several cultural depictions… tweaking the ethnicity to a more convincing Middle-Eastern face.” This approach has sparked interest in understanding the more authentic appearance of Jesus.

Distinguished researcher Joan Taylor also sheds light on this topic by emphasizing that Jesus likely had dark olive skin, short black hair, and a beard. She explained, “Jesus was not a European… He was very much of his time and place.”

The historical evidence suggests that Jesus lived a modest life, which his appearance mirrored. Taylor pointed out, “He was a wanderer… He looked like a beggar.” Such insights help paint a picture of a more humble and relatable figure.

Thanks to Uterwijk’s AI-generated image and historical insights, we’re provided with a more genuine portrayal of Jesus. This helps challenge the traditional perceptions that have prevailed for so long.