Which can you trust more—your computer or your eyes?

Not everyone agrees. Richard Johnson is an art detective. He uses his eyes. But he also uses his computer. His computer helps him answer questions like: Is this a genuine painting? How old is it?

Mr. Johnson uses X-ray images. Those can look extra close at paintings. He can even tell if two paintings came from the same bolt of canvas!

Every canvas has a “fingerprint.” It’s a unique thread pattern. That helps Mr. Johnson answer new questions. Which painting did Van Gogh paint first? Did this painting of Rembrandt’s come from the same cloth as his other painting?

Digital art detective work is new. But it isn’t trying to replace old art history methods. Mr. Johnson believes art historians should still use their eyes to study brushstrokes. But he thinks digital detectives and art historians work better together than apart.

“Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil.” — Ecclesiastes 4:9