I think the article and this comment misses the point. As far as "just use the right optical tricks and you can be Vermeer" -- sure, this is bullshit. As far

I think the article and this comment misses the point. As far as "just use the right optical tricks and you can be Vermeer" -- sure, this is bullshit. As far as showing that an optical method was a real possibility for how Vermeer created his work-- sure! A layman using the tricks was able to get very close, but lacked the artistry himself to put in Vermeer's unique magic in: this establishes that the optical techniques were a plausible way for the works to be created.