Tim's Vermeer

Software inventor and lifelong tinkerer Tim Jenison of San Antonio, Texas, got an idea in his head that the great 17th-century Dutch painter Johannes Vermeer might have used some simple yet clever gadgets to produce his almost photorealistic masterpieces. Acting on his theory, Jenison set out to see if he could duplicate one of Vermeer's paintings (“The Music Lesson”) using only materials that were available to the Dutch master 300-plus years ago. His friends, the comedy-magic duo Penn & Teller, intrigued by the idea, decided—with Teller directing and Penn Jillette producing and narrating—to record the progress of Jenison's project. The result is a short but sweet documentary, entertaining and stimulating in the way it explores the intersection between technology and the artistic temperament.