DrawBot script to create an animated version of “Anthologie zur Visuellen Poesie” by Timm Ulrichs

timm_ulrichs.py

# DrawBot script to create an animated version of 
# "Anthologie zur Visuellen Poesie" by Timm Ulrichs (1968),
# as requested by Nick Sherman here: https://www.instagram.com/p/BiAjODfHwCO/
# Thanks to Letterform Archive for sharing.


def e_square(x, y, side, rotation):
    '''
    Draw letter e in a square defined by its center
    and the length of the sides.
    '''
    save()
    rotate(rotation, (x, y))
    stroke(0)
    strokeWidth(1)
    # add a stroke, because Helvetica Bold is not heavy enough
    path = BezierPath()
    path.text('e', font='HelveticaNeue-Bold', fontSize=56)
    min_x, min_y, max_x, max_y = path.bounds()
    p_width = (max_x - min_x)
    p_height = (max_y - min_y)
    translate(x - p_width / 2, y - p_height / 2)
    drawPath(path)
    restore()


margin = 10
width = height = 1000 + 2 * margin
center = width / 2, height / 2
square_size = 1000 / 25
steps = 24

for global_r_factor in range(steps//2):
    newPage(width, height)
    fill(243/256, 239/256, 228/256)
    # eyedropper values from original image
    rect(0, 0, width, height)
    fill(0)

    for x in range(steps + 1):
        for y in range(steps + 1):
            for r_factor in range(steps + 1):
                if(
                    r_factor <= x <= steps - r_factor and
                    r_factor <= y <= steps - r_factor
                ):
                    rotation = (global_r_factor + r_factor) * (360 / 12)
            e_square(
                square_size / 2 + x * square_size + margin,
                square_size / 2 + y * square_size + margin,
                square_size, rotation
            )

saveImage('~/Desktop/Timm Ulrichs - Anthologie zur Visuellen Poesie.gif')