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Balzaculator Color Code
La Comedie Humaine as Binary System for Balazacolytes

Item date(s): 2013

Angela Lorenz


Pages: unpaged
Size: 243mm
Binding: Housed in a chemise in a Perspex drawer within cover
Inscription: Signed by the artist
Edition: #33/33

Type: Cards
Sub-type: Computers

Place publication: not stated
Publisher: The artist

Additional notes:
This is an analog, proto-computer to determine which characters created by Honoré de Balzac (1799-1850) appear in which stories or novels of The Human Comedy. In 1833, after Balzac had already started writing this collection of 90+ novels and stories, he realized the potential of weaving repeating characters throughout the works, to introduce familiarity into any scene and to eliminate the need to describe every figure anew. This also allowed Balzac the chance to develop individuals further, earlier or later in life, in any given moment of The Human Comedy. Of the thousands of characters, all appearing four or more times are here.

The loom apparatus pays homage to French weaver and merchant Jacquard, whose innovations around the time of Balzac’s birth constituted the first computer program: a series of punched cards to indicate a pattern to be woven automatically on a loom. The viewer may place the punched card in front of any of the 179 repeating characters in the Balzaculator and colored dots will show the novels or stories in which a character appears. The Balzaculator Color Code on the reverse is a key to enrich each character by citing professions, status and personal qualities. For the truly curious, there is also an index regarding the reason two characters share a single sheet. Some notable characters are missing here, appearing only in one story named after them.

The eight linen bookbinding threads allowing the cover to open and close echo the eight-character bit strings of binary code used to write the title on the cover, and the eight sections of La Comédie Humaine. The faux terracotta antique Roman loom weights dangling from the threads, together with the canvas cover printed in gold, summon up Balzac, the fervid collector of art and antiquities, writing through the night in his white cashmere monk’s robe tied with a gold Venetian belt. Dots in Memento archival ink printed with HB pencil erasers on acid-free cardstock. Errata in archival ink pen based on Balzac’s outlandish corrected proofs which he gave as presents to friends.

Exhibition notes:
'Beyond Words'

Jack Ginsberg Centre for Book Arts, Johannesburg.

20 June 2023 - 11 August 2023

Ref: GB/30428


   


   



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