Complexity Analysis of Escher’s Art

António M. Lopes; J. A. Tenreiro Machado

doi:10.3390/e21060553

Complexity Analysis of Escher’s Art

Entropy ◽

10.3390/e21060553 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 21 (6) ◽

pp. 553 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

António M. Lopes ◽

J. A. Tenreiro Machado

Keyword(s):

Complex System ◽

Quantitative Analysis ◽

Complexity Analysis ◽

Quantitative Characterization ◽

Cultural Economic ◽

Scaling Technique ◽

Artistic Production ◽

Formidable Challenge ◽

Visualization Techniques

Art is the output of a complex system based on the human spirit and driven by several inputs that embed social, cultural, economic and technological aspects of a given epoch. A solid quantitative analysis of art poses considerable difficulties and reaching assertive conclusions is a formidable challenge. In this paper, we adopt complexity indices, dimensionality-reduction and visualization techniques for studying the evolution of Escher’s art. Grayscale versions of 457 artworks are analyzed by means of complexity indices and represented using the multidimensional scaling technique. The results are correlated with the distinct periods of Escher’s artistic production. The time evolution of the complexity and the emergent patterns demonstrate the effectiveness of the approach for a quantitative characterization of art.

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On the Complexity Analysis and Visualization of Musical Information

Entropy ◽

10.3390/e21070669 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 21 (7) ◽

pp. 669 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

António M. Lopes ◽

J. A. Tenreiro Machado

Keyword(s):

Multidimensional Scaling ◽

Dimensionality Reduction ◽

Complexity Analysis ◽

Computational Tools ◽

Scaling Technique ◽

Digital Representations ◽

Musical Production ◽

Musical Works ◽

Visualization Techniques

This paper considers several distinct mathematical and computational tools, namely complexity, dimensionality-reduction, clustering, and visualization techniques, for characterizing music. Digital representations of musical works of four artists are analyzed by means of distinct indices and visualized using the multidimensional scaling technique. The results are then correlated with the artists’ musical production. The patterns found in the data demonstrate the effectiveness of the approach for assessing the complexity of musical information.

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Optimization of use-wear detection and characterization on stone tool surfaces

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-021-03663-4 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Borel Antony ◽

Deltombe Raphaël ◽

Moreau Philippe ◽

Ingicco Thomas ◽

Bigerelle Maxence ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Quantitative Analysis ◽

Stone Tools ◽

High Impact ◽

Qualitative Description ◽

Raw Material ◽

Stone Tool ◽

Quantitative Characterization ◽

Use Wear ◽

Surface Alteration

AbstractDebates and doubt around the interpretation of use-wear on stone tools called for the development of quantitative analysis of surfaces to complement the qualitative description of traces. Recently, a growing number of studies showed that prehistoric activities can be discriminated thanks to quantitative characterization of stone tools surface alteration due to use. However, stone tool surfaces are microscopically very heterogeneous and the calculated parameters may highly vary depending on the areas selected for measurement. Indeed, it may be impacted by the effects from the raw material topography and not from the altered zones only, if non-altered part of the surface is included in the measurement. We propose here to discuss this issue and present a workflow involving the use of masks to separate worn and unworn parts of the surface. Our results show that this step of extraction, together with suitable filtering, could have a high impact on the optimization of the detection and thus characterization of use traces. This represents the basis for future automatic routines allowing the detection, extraction and characterization of wear on stone tools.

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