Exploring the Influence of Artist Names in Midjourney

The rise of AI image generators like Midjourney has sparked debates about using artists' names in prompts. Some argue it steals an artist's style, while others see it as inspiration. In a recent YouTube video, a digital artist explored this issue by prompting 100 artists' names in Midjourney 5.2 to analyze their impact.

I came across an intriguing YouTube video identifying 100 artists and analyzing how prompting their names impacts the image generations created in Midjourney 5.2.

A Spectrum of Influence

The artist found a spectrum of influence when prompting artists' names. On one end, some artists' names produced images highly reminiscent of their signature style. For example, prompting "Thomas de Quevedo" yielded portraits with colours and black clothes mimicking the Dutch painter's works.

However, most artists' names only created a vague approximation of their genre and palette. Prompting "Jackson Pollock" generated splatter-paint images evoking abstract expressionism with a similar colour scheme. But they lacked Pollock's unique chaotic energy.

Overall, the artist concluded that using an artist's name mainly provides a slight nudge away from Midjourney's default output toward the broad stylistic qualities frequently associated with that artist. It rarely replicates their actual techniques and compositions.

Just the Style, Not the Artist

The video artist believes this shows that using artists' names does not truly capture their unique creative vision and talents. While it may borrow some superficial elements of their style, the AI diverges into its own aesthetic interpretation.

He argues this pulls more from the general cultural associations connected to that artist rather than recreating their specific work. For instance, prompting "Claude Monet" produces soft, dreamy landscapes evoking impressionism's ethos more than Monet's individual brushstrokes and compositions.

1. Agostino Di Duccio: Early Renaissance Italian sculptor. The AI-generated images exhibited a Renaissance style influenced by this name, although with significant differences from the original works.
2. Alberto Arnoldi: A 14th-century Italian sculptor and architect. The AI-generated images did not resemble cubism, as one might expect, but instead displayed nice and colourful traits.
3. Alex Janvier: A First Nation artist in Canada. The AI-generated images featured similar colours to the original works but leaned towards a more abstract style.
4. Alexander Archipenko: A Ukrainian-American avant-garde artist, sculptor, and graphic artist. The AI-generated images displayed possible similarities in materials and shapes to the original works but with more emphasis on faces.
5. Alfred Menesia: A non-figurative French painter, stained glass artist, and tapestry designer. The AI-generated images showed bold colors, but there was little similarity to the original works.
6. Alfred Rethel: A German history painter. The AI-generated images looked different from the original works, which were usually not coloured.
7. Asplund: A Swedish painter, sculptor, and etching artist. The AI-generated images had some resemblance to the original works but were more colourful and green.
8. Antonietta Raphael Mafai: An Italian sculptor and painter of Jewish Heritage and Lithuanian birth. The AI-generated images shared little similarity with the original style, with the only common theme being the red-orange colour.
9. Ann Jacobson: A Danish architect and furniture designer. The AI-generated images contained interesting shapes in landscapes and architecture, but they did not resemble the original architectural style.
10. Artemisia Gentileschi: An Italian Baroque painter. The AI-generated images exhibited some similarities to the original works, especially in terms of colours and lighting.
11. Auguste Herbin: A French painter of Modern Art. The AI-generated images featured similar colours compared to the original works but were more detailed and complex.
12. Bernard Buffet: A French conceptual artist. The AI-generated images had possibly similar shapes and materials compared to the original work but appeared more massive and complete.
13. Bettina Werner: An Italian artist. The AI-generated images looked nothing like the original work, but the word "salt" likely contributed to an otherworldly and salty appearance.
14. Bill Brandt: A British photographer and photojournalist. The AI-generated images had a kind of similar look and feel to the original work, with some differences.
15. Bruce McLean: A Scottish sculptor, performance artist, and painter. The AI-generated images were quite different from the original work, showcasing unique characteristics.
16. Bruno Monari: An Italian artist, designer, and inventor. The AI-generated images displayed some similar elements to the original designs, particularly for architecture.
17. Carreth Wyn Evans: A Welsh conceptual artist, sculptor, and filmmaker. The AI-generated images were a bit less abstract and squiggly than the original installations, creating a cool effect.
18. Charles E. Perugini: An Italian-born English painter of the Romantic and Victorian era. The AI-generated images had a similar style of painting and clothing, with more vivid colours.
19. Charles Lancia: An English painter mainly of historical subjects. The AI-generated images had a somewhat similar colour palette, but they also featured many dogs, likely a reference to the artist's breed of dogs.
20. Christian Schad: A German painter and photographer. The AI-generated images exhibited kind of similar colours and poses, but they were more vivid.
21. Christopher Wood: An English painter. The AI-generated images looked quite different from the original works, with possible influences from various sources.
22. Claire Layton: An English/American artist, writer, and illustrator. The AI-generated images had a distinct style, but it looked nothing like the artist's original work.
23. David Bomberg: A British painter. The AI-generated images looked like cubism, consistent with the artist's style, but they were different from the original works.
24. Donald Sultan: An American painter, sculptor, and printmaker. The AI-generated images shared some colours with the artist's body of work, but there were differences.
25. Edmund Charles Tarbell: An American impressionist painter. The AI-generated images had elements reminiscent of this artist's style, especially featuring water and soft pink colours.
26. Eduardo Chillida: A Spanish-Basque sculptor. The AI-generated images reflected the monumental abstract works of the artist but with a unique spin.
27. Edward Borden: An English painter and illustrator. The AI-generated images didn't really capture the artist's style, but the colours were somewhat similar.
28. Edward Boren: An American painter. The AI-generated images looked completely different from the original works, with only some colour similarities.
29. Elaine de Kooning: An abstract expressionist and figurative expressionist painter. The AI-generated images had a resemblance to her style and used similar colours.
30. Elena Fortescue-Brickdale: A British artist known for paintings, book illustrations, and stained glass works. The AI-generated images were reminiscent of the colours and style of the original works.
31. Elias Gruner: An Australian artist. The AI-generated images had some similarities in colours, but the original works looked entirely different.
32. Elma Bischoff: A visual artist in the San Francisco Bay area. The AI-generated images showed some colour similarities, especially the lime-coloured yellow.
33. Elmgreen & Dragset: A Danish-Norwegian artist duo. The AI-generated images explored the relationship between art, architecture, and design, displaying some similarities to their style.
34. Emil Carlsen: An American impressionist painter. The AI-generated images exhibited traits of impressionism, with somewhat similar colours, although more muted than the original works.
35. Eve Linda Morgan: An English painter. The original works shared a color scheme, poses, and the depiction of angels and women, which were somewhat recognizable in the AI-generated images.
36. Federico Sand Doménegi: An Italian impressionist painter. The AI-generated images displayed a style and colours reminiscent of the original artwork, although with differences.
37. Fiona Ray: A Hong Kong-born British artist. The AI-generated images featured a pink color scheme similar to the original works but leaned towards the default style of Midjourney.
38. Francesco Guardi: An Italian painter from Venice. The AI-generated images captured the essence of Venice, with clothing on the portraits and landscapes resembling the time period of the artist's works.
39. Frank Miller: An American comic book writer, penciler, and inker. The AI-generated landscape images resembled the artist's style, with similar colours and a touch of weirdness.
40. Fred Sandback: An American minimalist conceptual-based sculptor. The AI-generated images exhibited minimalism but were more colourful than the original works.
41. Frederick Judd Waugh: An American artist primarily known as a marine artist. The AI-generated images differed from the original works depicting waves on the ocean but featured water-related elements.
42. Friedel Dzubas: A German-born American abstract painter. The AI-generated images had some of the artist's colours but also incorporated Cubist influences.
43. George Dunlop Leslie: A British genre painter, author, and illustrator. The AI-generated images had slight similarities with the original works but were distinct.
44. Giovanni Del Ponte: A Florentine painter of the late Gothic period. The AI-generated images looked different from the default style but had some uniqueness.
45. Gustav Leonard De Jonga: A Flemish painter known for glamorous Society portraits and genre scenes. The AI-generated images had a similar time period feel, but with more vivid colors.
46. Hannah Höch: A German Dada artist. The AI-generated images exhibited a Dada style with beige tones and red, capturing the essence of the original works.
47. Helen Frankenthaler: An American abstract expressionist painter. The AI-generated images had some recurring colours and the overall style of abstract expressionism.
48. Hermann Anglada Camarasa: A Catalan and Balearic Spanish painter. The AI-generated images had colours somewhat reminiscent of the original artwork, especially in the architecture, which looked somewhat Gaudí-esque.
49. Irving R. Wiles: An American Artist. The AI-generated images had a similar style but were more of an approximation rather than an exact copy of the artist's style.
50. Yvonne Hitchens: An English painter. The AI-generated images had somewhat similar colours but were more vivid and bright compared to the original works.
51. Jacob Henriquez Maris: A Dutch painter from the Hague School of Painters. The AI-generated images shared a similar color scheme and a small resemblance to the artist's actual artwork.
52. James Pradier: A Genevan-born French neoclassical sculptor. The AI-generated images used similar materials and mediums, but there were differences.
53. Jean Delville: A Belgian symbolist painter. The AI-generated images exhibited some similarities, especially in terms of colours and mysterious look.
54. Jean Nouvel: A French architect. The AI-generated images captured the likeness of the architect in the portraits and featured recurring red elements.
55. Jeanette Pasin Sloan: An American visual artist known for photorealist prints, paintings, and drawings. The AI-generated images looked completely different from the original works, with no similarity in style or colours.
56. Jeffrey Smart: An expatriate Australian painter. The AI-generated images featured similar colours, but the style was quite different from the original works.
57. John Bellany: A Scottish painter. The AI-generated images had colours similar to the original works, especially yellows and orange tones, but there were differences.
58. John Duncan: A Scottish symbolist painter. The AI-generated images exhibited some hints of similarity to the artist's style, particularly with certain subjects.
59. John Heartfield: A German Dada artist specializing in photomontages. The AI-generated images had a similar color scheme to the original artwork and incorporated some creepy elements.
60. Joseph Clement Coll: An American book and newspaper illustrator. The AI-generated images looked different from the original works, with some dark and sinister themes.
61. Larry Rivers: An American artist, musician, and filmmaker. The AI-generated images didn't closely resemble the artist's style, but they did incorporate the use of yellow and pink colors.
62. Lawrence Poons: An American abstract painter. The AI-generated images were overloaded with tiny details, similar to the original works, but didn't quite capture the abstract style.
63. Leon Bonnat: A French painter. The AI-generated images had some similarities in the colors and style, particularly the clothing in portraits.
64. Leon Levinstein: An American street photographer. The AI-generated images had limited resemblance to the original style, with only a couple of architectural images resembling it.
65. Lucian Clarke: A French photographer. The AI-generated images were black and white, similar to the artist's style, and showed some similarities between the two.
66. Lucie Rie: A British ceramic artist. The AI-generated images did not closely resemble the artist's original works, with only a slight similarity in the color scheme.
67. Malcolm Morley: An English painter, printmaker, and sculptor. The AI-generated images exhibited some similarities in style and colors, although they were not exact replicas.
68. Marianne Stokes: An Austrian-English Pre-Raphaelite painter. The AI-generated images had a somewhat similar color scheme and style, with recognizable elements.
69. Marta Minujín: An Argentine conceptual and performance artist. The AI-generated images had a distinct and artistic look, but they did not closely match the artist's style.
70. Martin Jacobson: A Swedish painter. The AI-generated images were reminiscent of the original works but with more vivid colors and green tones.
71. Max Beckmann: A German painter, printmaker, sculptor, and writer. The AI-generated images had a different look but incorporated some elements of the artist's style.
72. Max Ernst: A German painter, sculptor, graphic artist, and poet. The AI-generated images had some elements reminiscent of the artist's style, such as surrealism and abstract elements.
73. Max Weber: A Russian-born American painter and sculptor. The AI-generated images showed some similarities in style and colors, although they were not exact copies.
74. Michael Landy: A British artist. The AI-generated images exhibited a style somewhat similar to the artist's, with distinctive elements.
75. Milton Avery: An American modern painter. The AI-generated images had some similarities in colors and style, although they were not exact reproductions.
76. Milton Dacosta: A Brazilian painter. The AI-generated images featured a style that was somewhat similar to the artist's, with distinct colors and forms.
77. Monique Prieto: An American abstract painter. The AI-generated images did not closely resemble the artist's style, with differences in colors and abstraction.
78. Murray Hantman: An American artist known for his abstract paintings. The AI-generated images had some abstract elements and color similarities to the artist's works.
79. Nancy Elizabeth Prophet: An American sculptor. The AI-generated images exhibited a style that was somewhat reminiscent of the artist's sculptures, with distinct forms.
80. Nils Dardel: A Swedish painter. The AI-generated images showed some similarities in style, colors, and forms, although they were not exact replicas.
81. Nina Simone: An American singer, songwriter, and civil rights activist. The AI-generated images did not closely resemble the artist's music but had a unique and artistic quality.
82. Oswald Mathias Ungers: A German architect. The AI-generated images had architectural elements and a style somewhat reminiscent of the artist's works.
83. Otto Dix: A German painter and printmaker. The AI-generated images exhibited some elements of the artist's style, such as expressionism and bold colors.
84. Otto Piene: A German artist. The AI-generated images had a distinct and artistic look but did not closely match the artist's style.
85. Pablo Gargallo: A Spanish sculptor and painter. The AI-generated images exhibited some elements of the artist's style, with distinct forms and materials.
86. Pablo Picasso: A Spanish painter, sculptor, printmaker, ceramicist, and stage designer. The AI-generated images had elements of Picasso's style, such as abstract forms and bold colors.
87. Pascin: A Bulgarian artist known for his drawings and paintings. The AI-generated images showed some elements reminiscent of the artist's style, with distinctive forms.
88. Patricia Renick: An American sculptor. The AI-generated images did not closely resemble the artist's sculptures, with differences in forms and materials.
89. Patrick Heron: A British abstract and figurative artist. The AI-generated images had some abstract elements and color similarities to the artist's works.
90. Pierre Bonnard: A French painter and printmaker. The AI-generated images exhibited some elements of the artist's style, such as color harmonies and domestic scenes.
91. Pierre Soulages: A French painter, engraver, and sculptor. The AI-generated images showed some elements reminiscent of the artist's style, with bold and expressive forms.
92. R. B. Kitaj: An American artist known for his figurative and narrative paintings. The AI-generated images had some elements reminiscent of the artist's style, with distinctive figures.
93. Rachel Whiteread: A British artist known for her sculpture and installation art. The AI-generated images exhibited a style somewhat similar to the artist's, with distinct forms.
94. Rafael Barradas: A Uruguayan painter and muralist. The AI-generated images had a different look but incorporated some elements of the artist's style.
95. Raymond Jonson: An American abstract painter. The AI-generated images exhibited some abstract elements and color similarities to the artist's works.
96. Reginald Marsh: An American painter, illustrator, and printmaker. The AI-generated images showed some elements reminiscent of the artist's style, with distinctive urban scenes.
97. Reinhard Drenkhahn: A German painter known for his abstract works. The AI-generated images had some abstract elements and color similarities to the artist's works.
98. Rene Ricard: An American poet, painter, art critic, and actor. The AI-generated images did not closely resemble the artist's style but had a unique and artistic quality.
99. Robert Gwathmey: An American painter and printmaker. The AI-generated images showed some elements reminiscent of the artist's style, with distinctive figures and forms.
100. Robert Hughes: An Australian-born American art critic and writer. The AI-generated images did not closely resemble the artist's works but had a unique and artistic quality.

Originality in AI Art

This raises interesting questions about originality and influence in AI art. The artist believes it is nearly impossible for AI image generators to digitally reproduce any painter's exact artistic style. The algorithmic nature of the technology inherently leads to new mutations and original results, even when drawing inspiration from human artists.

In his view, using artists' names is not "stealing" their work but rather tapping into the rich creative lineage of art history. Artists have always riffed on their predecessors. For AI, prompting names seems more akin to guiding its machine learning than copying creative output.

The debate continues around what ethical bounds should exist when handling artists' names and aesthetics. But this video provides an intriguing visual experiment showing AI art diverging as much as evolving from the artists it references. The results reveal a tension between human and machine influence as AI pays homage to and transcends its artistic inspirations.

Reference