In this paper we trace the development of computer graphics, both in terms of hardware and software. Clear evidence of the importance of graphics today is the recent emergence of a set of international standards. These provide a foundation for graphics programming, and in this paper the three standards GKS, GKS-3D and PHIGS, are each described briefly. There is a standard too for the storage and transfer of graphical data, namely the Computer Graphics Metafile, and this is also described.