Genetic Algorithms are very useful in resolving abstract problems without any obvious (or any at all) analytical solutions. This replica of the infamous Leonardo Da Vinci's Mona Lisa is made from a quite simple evolution code wrote by Roger Alsing which with only a population of two replicates an image using only 50 reconfigurable semi transparent polygons.
The code follows this simple procedure as indicated on Roger Alsing's link:
0) Setup a random DNA string (application start)
1) Copy the current DNA sequence and mutate it slightly
2) Use the new DNA to render polygons onto a canvas
3) Compare the canvas to the source image
4) If the new painting looks more like the source image than the previous painting did, then overwrite the current DNA with the new DNA
5) repeat from 1
The restriction is the use of only 50 semi transparent polygons.---
You can find a lot more info on his website and also the source code and a parametric application where you can select the polygon number. The following image is made from multiple generations using a 150 polygon rule:
There is also a gallery with applications on other images
