{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O1193785"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1193785/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2011EY6947/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2011EY6947/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2011EY6947","copyright":"©Victoria and Albert Museum, London/A. Michael Noll","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O1193785/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O1193785","accessionNumber":"E.33-2011","objectType":"Photograph","titles":[{"title":"Gaussian-Quadratic","type":"assigned by artist"}],"summaryDescription":"This is a photographic print of a computer-generated image that was originally created by A. Michael Noll at Bell Labs, Murray Hill, New Jersey in 1962-1963. Noll has explained that:\r\n\r\n\"Ninety-nine lines connect 100 points whose horizontal coordinates are Gaussian. Vertical coordinates increase according to a quadratic equation. As a point reaches the top, it is reflected to the bottom to continue its rise. The exact proportions of this pattern were chosen from many other examples. This particular proportion is vaguely similar to the painting \"Ma Jolie\" by Picasso.\"\n\nAlthough the accompanying text gives the date 1963 and a copyright date of 1965, the original image is similar to others created earlier. In a paper dated August 28 1962, Noll describes how he used an IBM 7090 computer and Stromberg-Carlson 4020 microfilm plotter to produce \"an exploratory series of design-producing experiments\". He called the resulting images \"Patterns\" and stated that they were \"obviously conceived without forethought for their artistic merit\". However, Noll went on to speculate that \"experiments might be attempted to try to determine just what qualities make a picture pleasing or even artistic.\" (A. Michael Noll. <i>Patterns by 7090</i>, Technical Memorandum, Bell Telephone Laboratories, 1962).\n\nNoll and his colleague at Bell Labs, Bela Julesz, held a joint exhibition of their work at the Howard Wise Gallery in New York in April 1965. Entitled <i>Computer-Generated Pictures</i>, the show was one of the world's first exhibitions of digital imagery. Noll also attempted to register the copyright for <i>Gaussian-Quadratic</i>, but was initially refused because \"a machine had generated the work\". As Noll explained \"The copyright was finally accepted, giving <i>Gaussian-Quadratic</i> the distinction of being perhaps the first registered piece of copyrighted art produced with a digital computer.\" (A. Michael Noll. The beginnings of computer art in the United States: a memoir. <i>Leonardo</i>, vol. 27, no. 1, 1994)","physicalDescription":"Black and white photographic print of a computer-generated image, showing 100 points connected via 99 straight lines","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"A. Michael Noll","id":"AUTH317245"},"association":{"text":"computer artist","id":"AAT253822"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"photographic paper","id":"AAT14190"}],"techniques":[{"text":"photography","id":"AAT54225"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Photographic paper","categories":[{"text":"Computer Art","id":"THES49037"},{"text":"Photographs","id":"THES48910"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"PDP","id":"THES48595"},"images":["2011EY6947"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"LVLE","id":"THES49657"},"free":"","case":"DA","shelf":"3","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"drawing","id":"AAT33973"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"New Jersey","id":"x29028"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":"The computer-generated image, of which this is a print, was made at Bell Labs, Murray Hill, New Jersey"}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1962-1965","earliest":"1962-01-01","latest":"1965-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":"Print after a computer-generated artwork originally created in 1962-1963.   Noll registered the copyright for the image in 1965. The photographic print was made at a later date. "},{"date":{"text":"1970s","earliest":"1970-01-01","latest":"1979-12-31"},"association":{"text":"printed","id":"x46159"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Gift of A. Michael Noll © AMN 1965","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"28","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Length","value":"21.8","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Photographic print, 'Gaussian-Quadratic', by A. Michael Noll, New Jersey, 1962-3","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"Chance and Control: Art in the Age of Computers (2018)\n\nA. MICHAEL NOLL (born 1939)\r\n<i>Gaussian-Quadratic</i>\r\nUSA, made 1962–63, printed 1970s\n\r\nA. Michael Noll began creating computer-generated images in the early 1960s, while working as a researcher at Bell Telephone Laboratories in Murray Hill, New Jersey. He made the images using a computer and a microfilm plotter, which produced 35mm photographic film like the example in the display case nearby. Noll wrote a program to plot the random points, which were then connected by straight lines.\n\r\nPhotographic print of a computer-generated image\r\nGiven by the artist\r\nMuseum no. E.33-2011","date":{"text":"07/07/2018-18/11/2018","earliest":"2018-07-07","latest":"2018-11-18"}}],"partNumbers":["E.33-2011"],"accessionNumberNum":"33","accessionNumberPrefix":"E","accessionYear":2011,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-16","recordCreationDate":"2011-03-28","availableToBook":false}}