Hommage à Paul Klee (1965-67)
This drawing is one of the most often cited in books and articles about the earliest phase of computer art (mid-1960s). It may be called an icon of the pioneering times of the digital art movement.
It is not known precisely how many exemplars may exist of this drawing in the form of orginally produced by the automatic drawing machine. Nake estimates that he generated about 30 or 40 copies during the years from 1965 to 1967. Each one of these must be considered an original work. He also did an edition of high-quality silkscreen prints (40 copies, 1966). Additionally, about five silkscreen prints exist on heavy colored paper.
When generating this image, Nake says, he was inspired by Paul Klee’s oil painting “Hauptweg und Nebenwege” of 1929 and several drawings by Klee from that time. Contrary to what other algorithmic artists occasionally did by the time, namely trying to simulate an artist’s work by algorithmic description, this drawing is in no respect the attempt of a simulation.
More works
Generative Softwares (2025)
Geradescharen Series (2018)
Matrix multiplication (1967-68)
Walk-Through Raster (1966)
Random polygonal line (1965)
Rectangualar hatches (1965)
Early Algorithmic Drawings (1963-65)