Illustration Beyond Proof

Mathematicians, historians, and artists gathered at a workshop to explore what makes mathematical illustration rigorous and how it fits into mathematical practice beyond proof-writing. The discussion became timely amid ongoing debates about how AI has disrupted traditional theorem-based measures of mathematical success, prompting the field to reconsider what mathematics fundamentally is—a body of knowledge and understanding rather than merely a collection of verifiable results. The authors argue for recognizing and crediting diverse forms of mathematical work, including illustration and other sensory media, as legitimate contributions to mathematical practice.