This project uses artificial intelligence to classify artworks according to the Dutch concept of “gezelligheid,” a word associated with warmth, comfort, and pleasant atmosphere. An AI model was trained to evaluate artworks and determine whether they are “gezellig” or “ongezellig.” The results reveal the strange and often humorous logic of algorithmic interpretation. Classical paintings are suddenly judged through this cultural filter, sometimes producing unexpected or absurd outcomes. The project simultaneously reflects on the human influence behind AI systems.

During the training I repeatedly labelled images of buttocks as “gezellig,” which caused the system to strongly associate this category with them, as well as anything that resembles buttocks. This moment of feedback exposed my own subjective role in shaping the dataset and highlighted how algorithmic decisions often reflect the biases and choices of the people who train them.