For many years, the image of Jesus in Western art has shown him as a tall, fair-skinned man. However, historians and researchers suggest that his actual appearance was quite different, matching more closely with the people who lived in ancient Palestine. Jesus was probably on the shorter side, with a sturdier build and dark, curly hair.

One of the most fascinating modern attempts to recreate an image of Jesus comes from Bas Uterwijk. Using advanced artificial intelligence, Uterwijk produced an eye-catching portrayal. By blending various cultural depictions and adjusting features to align with historical accuracy, he transformed the traditional image of Jesus into something more fitting of a Middle-Eastern man. Uterwijk shared his approach, saying, “I used several cultural depictions… tweaking the ethnicity to a more convincing Middle-Eastern face.”

Joan Taylor, a well-known researcher, adds to this by describing what Jesus most likely looked like: dark olive skin, short black hair, and a beard. She pointed out, “Jesus was not a European… He was very much of his time and place.” This perspective aligns the depiction of Jesus with historical truths that can sometimes be overshadowed by popular artistic interpretations.

Historical records indicate that Jesus led a humble life, and this would have been reflected in his appearance. Taylor described Jesus as “a wanderer” who probably looked more like a beggar rather than the serene and groomed figure seen in many traditional images.

By examining Uterwijk’s AI-generated image and incorporating historical insights, we can better understand what Jesus might have truly looked like. This new representation challenges the centuries-old perceptions many of us have grown accustomed to.