Louvre and Snapchat Launch Augmented Reality Experience for Six Masterpieces

Starting February 18, 2026, the Musée du Louvre and Snap Inc. Are offering a new way to experience art through “The Incredible Unknowns of the Louvre,” a free augmented reality (AR) experience accessible via Snapchat. This initiative builds upon a pilot program launched in 2023 focusing on Ancient Egyptian artifacts, expanding AR integration across the museum’s collections.

A Deeper Dive into Masterpieces

The AR experience allows visitors to leverage their smartphones to uncover hidden details, materials, and colors that have faded over time, decode artistic techniques, and explore the historical context of six iconic works. The experience is activated by scanning a QR code displayed on the artwork’s label.

Featured Works

• The Code of Hammurabi: Visitors can decode the millennia-old legal text, including the principle of “an eye for an eye.”
• The Bust of Akhenaten: AR restores the sculpture to its original colors and forms.
• The Portrait of Anne of Cleves: The experience reveals hidden messages and analyzes the painting technique of Hans Holbein the Younger.
• The Kore of Samos: AR reconstructs the statue’s original vibrant colors.
• Four Prisoners: The experience visualizes the sculpture in its original arrangement.
• Figurine Rustiche: AR animates the naturalistic details of the artwork.

Technology and Collaboration

Developed by Snap’s AR Studio Paris in collaboration with Louvre curators, the project utilizes archival materials and scientific research to ensure accuracy. Antoine Gilbert, Snap’s Paris AR Studio Manager, emphasizes that AR serves as a “mediation tool,” revealing lost elements while maintaining scientific integrity. Gautier Verbeke, Director of Audience Development and Public Engagement at the Louvre Museum, highlights the ambition to make cultural heritage more accessible through innovative technology.

Accessibility Beyond the Museum Walls

While primarily designed for on-site visitors, “The Incredible Unknowns of the Louvre” is also accessible to Snapchat users worldwide. Through the Snapchat Lens carousel or by scanning banners near the Louvre, users can experience animated reconstructions and interactive tours of the featured artworks. Additional in-depth content is available on the Louvre’s official website, louvre.fr.

Looking Ahead

This collaboration between the Louvre and Snapchat exemplifies a growing trend of museums utilizing augmented reality to enhance visitor engagement and provide new layers of understanding to historical and artistic treasures. By blending technology with cultural heritage, institutions like the Louvre are striving to make art more interactive, accessible, and relevant to contemporary audiences.