The Ghent Altarpiece Lamb Restoration meme stems from the 2020 unveiling of a meticulously restored 15th-century masterpiece by Jan van Eyck. The restoration revealed that the 'Mystic Lamb' originally possessed strikingly humanoid features, including forward-facing eyes and a soul-piercing gaze, which had been hidden under layers of 16th-century overpainting. The internet immediately latched onto the 'intense' new look, comparing it to other famous restoration disasters like Potato Jesus. Today, the template is used to represent uncomfortable eye contact, shocking realizations, or the unsettling truth that lies beneath a polished exterior.