The documentary follows Tim Jenison, a Texas-based inventor and entrepreneur, as he embarks on a fascinating journey to unravel a historical art mystery. Tim is intrigued by the photorealistic paintings of Dutch Master Johannes Vermeer and becomes obsessed with understanding how Vermeer achieved such remarkable detail and realism in his work during the 17th century, long before the invention of photography. Suspecting that Vermeer may have used some form of optical technology to guide his painting, Tim delves into the world of art history, optical science, and painting techniques to find clues.

In his exploration, Tim tests the hypothesis that Vermeer utilized a camera obscura—an early form of projector that uses lenses and mirrors to cast images onto a surface—alongside a series of mirrors to create his masterpieces. This theory contends that such tools could have helped Vermeer to capture light and perspective with incredible accuracy. Tim embarks on an ambitious project to replicate a Vermeer painting by employing the same methods he believes Vermeer may have used. He sets out to hand-craft the optical devices and meticulously re-creates the setting and materials of the original painting to test his theory—a demanding and meticulous process that challenges the intersection of technology and art.