The Genesis of Computer Art – FORTRAN (Backus) a Computer Art Medium Creates a Mosaic Mona Lisa

Where did computer art, computer graphics and computer animation begin?

Written communication became sharable and pervasive once stone etchings were replaced with the mobility of paper and ink. Similarly once computer languages advanced from machine or assembly code to third generation computer languages, only then did computer output advance from simple alphanumerical (maybe mosaic) printouts to graphics and images with smooth curves and realism.

The FORTRAN programming language – a personal and historic short review.

John Backus, the inventor of FORTRAN, passed away on March 17, 2007 at the age of 83. He lead a team of IBM computer scientists to invent the first high-level programming language in 1954. John Backus received the Turing Award in 1977, an IBM Fellowship (1987) and the Draper Prize (1993).

FORTRAN is a computer programming language particularly suited to computation and scientific applications. But it was also used for business applications like university student information systems. It was a prevalent programming language in business before more structured and english-language-like programming languages came on the scene; namely, COBOL, PL1, RPG, BASIC.

It is FORTRAN that brings back fond memories of coding sheets, punch cards, debugging student code and the old IBM 1130 computer at university. FORTRAN, BASIC and COBOL were the prevalent programming languages of the day (circa 1976). After many iterations of “debugging your code", having your program work was such a 'high', an exalted feeling of success.

Every Science, Engineering and even Business student undertook a course in one of these languages. A necessary and effective way of understanding the logical and mathematical world of computers. Even more so it offered students an in depth knowledge of business and science processes like order processing, accounting, engineering calculations.

With the recent passing of Mr Backus, we are reminded of a time when graphically depicting (printing) data required the raw ability of the programmer to manipulate and position numbers, alphabetic and special characters on a continuous computer printout sheet. By using the over-strike(bold) capability of a line printer, you could actually adjust shades of grey/black creating shadows and texture.

FORTRAN programming as an Art Medium?

So it was possible to create an alphanumeric printout picture of the famous Mona Lisa using FORTRAN print statements. This image of the Mona Lisa was done by printing and over-printing standard alphanumeric characters creating a mosaic art piece to form an image of that famous Leonardo da Vinci painting. Step back from this computer printout and you viewed a simple replica of Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa.

Accomplishing this rudimentary computer art would be hours and days of tedious work involving the following steps:

1) You would need to take a copy of the original image and a grid (mapping to the 133 character width of a standard computer printout page) on a piece of transparency.

2) Place the grid transparency on top of the image and then fill in the grid cells over the image with alphanumeric characters that will depict a mosaic of the original image.

3) Highlight those grid cells that will be overprinted (bold type) to create shade and texture matching the original image.

4) Now you take each line of the grid and code it using FORTRAN print statements.

5) Like a brush to canvas the computer printout image of Mona Lisa will take form after many days of coding.

For a completed version of this process and a resulting computer mosaic of the Mona Lisa check out the Pisaca Web Albums images at: http://picasaweb.google.com/carl.chesal/MonaLisaComputerArtFortran

The search has begun for access to an 80 column punch card reader

The FORTRAN code for the Mona Lisa Mosaic is on original 90-column punch cards. Getting access to an 80-column card reader could facilitate moving the Mona Lisa FORTRAN code from its analog state to a digital version. Using an online editor, I could once again deploy the power of FORTRAN to print copies of 'computer mosaic' Mona Lisa. Then 'Mosaic Mona' would be available for the world to enjoy.

My infatuation with FORTRAN programming might have stemmed from the fact that both FORTRAN and I were coincidentally created in 1954. Thank you John Backus for FORTRAN.

About the Author:

Carl Chesal is a business and channel development consultant, trainer, internet marketer and professional photographer. He operates BizFare Enterprise Inc, providing business, marketing, and internet marketing consulting services. Bizfare Enterprise also operates a number of secure on-line shopping sites, like Cool Comfort Wear.