Mathematically Precise Crosshatching

This article was published in Scientific American’s former blog network and reflects the views of the author, not necessarily those of Scientific American

The technique of hatching, using many thin, parallel lines to describe form, texture and shadow has been in use since at least the middle ages. It lends itself well to etching, engraving and drawing, and was a favourite technique of Albrecht Dürer.

Mathematics-inspired artist Hamid Naderi Yeganeh uses formulas to push crosshatching into stunning and complex forms. 

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It can be difficult for a modern audience to appreciate all of the coded symbols in a work by Renaissance artist Dürer - and I do not mind admitting that I cannot follow the mathematical formulas that Yeganeh uses to launch his iterative artwork. The formulas are shared below each piece for those who can explore and appreciate them. 

I love the tiny circles in particular - it's a way of creating the forms that in one way evokes cells and also demonstrates the power of computer modelling under the hand of an artist. Crosshatching can be difficult to create in a way that appears uniform, and indeed imperfection is typically part of the technique's charm. Yeganeh's work feels both artistically familiar and machine-polished. There's craftsmanship hidden in these folds and contours. 

When Yeganeh turns to representational art, the intense crosshatching takes on a playful air.

Yeganeh has had work featured in The Guardian and The New York Times. Visit Hamid Naderi Yeganeh's website to explore more exquisite, mathematically inspired forms.