Generative Art Timeline · Chapter 3: Analog Era (1950s)
1959
Béla Julesz Invents Random-dot Stereograms
Julesz’s “Two Image Random Dot Stereograms” were 2 side-by-side randomly generated dot images. When viewed through a stereoscope they created the sensation of depth. Julesz displayed these patterns on a screen and developed the procedure at Bell Labs.
Text by Peter Bauman. Generative Art Timeline, Le Random, fact-checked September 2026.
Sources
- Julesz, Bela. "Binocular Depth Perception of Computer-Generated Patterns." Bell System Technical Journal 39, no. 5 (1960): 1125-1162.
People
Movements
computer art, generative art
Filed under
- Ideas
- depth perception, generative art, perception, randomness, science
- Technologies
- computer art, computer graphics, random-dot stereogram, stereograms, stereoscope
- People
- Béla Julesz
- Works
- Two Image Random Dot Stereograms
- Organisations
- Bell Labs
Echoes across time
- 1972 · Grenzgebiete der bildenden Kunst (Frontiers of Fine Arts) Exhibit at the Staatsgalerie Stuttgart
- 1972 · Important Early Publications Including Computer Art
- 1985 · Perlin Noise Invented
Le Random editorials
- A. Michael Noll on When It All Started, A. Michael Noll, March 25, 2025
Le Random podcast
- Timeline Ch 4—Digital Era Pt I (1960s) with Dr A Michael Noll — listen with transcript on Le Random (07 Sep 2023, 60 min). Transcript mentions stereograms. Apple Podcasts · Spotify
- Timeline Ch 3—Analog Era (1950s) with Georg Bak — listen with transcript on Le Random (10 Aug 2023, 65 min). Chapter 3’s episode. Apple Podcasts · Spotify