Jean-Pierre Hébert (French, 1939–2021) Free Flow, 1989
Plotter drawing, ink on paper
36 × 36 cm
signed and dated with title on the back
Collection of Bre Pettis
PION.2019.006
Description
Free Flow (1989) exemplifies Jean-Pierre Hébert's pioneering use of algorithms to create intricate pen plotter drawings that merge mathematical precision with organic expression. Drawn in one uninterrupted line of sepia ink on watercolor paper, the work resembles a flowing topographical landscape or the currents of wind and water, where subtle distortions in the grid generate a remarkable sense of depth and movement. Through the careful interplay of computation and craftsmanship, Hébert transforms a simple geometric framework into a poetic meditation on the hidden structures and dynamic forces that shape the natural world.