PR summary

closes#30547

This PR enhances the API ofdraw_path_collection() for long term maintainability.

Summary of Changes

1. Introduces the newVectorizedGraphicsContextBase class, which is similar toGraphicsContextBase, but each attribute is vectorized. This serves as the dataclass through which all parameters are passed todraw_path_collection().

2. Updated signature ofdraw_path_collection() by making the parameters optional in order to support both the following:

   • The previous call withgc and all parameters present
   • The new call withvgc and none of the optional parameters

3. Updated signature of_iter_collection() to takevgc instead ofgc and added logic to cycle through all attributes.

4. Changeddraw() inCollection to use the newdraw_path_collection() API along withtemporary fallback for third-party backends that use the old signature.

Why is this change required?

It would become much simpler to add / vectorize new attributes in collections, without completely breaking third party backends. For example, it would greatly simplify#27937, that aims to vectorize thehatch attribute.

To-do

• Docstrings
• What's new note
• Deprecation notice for the old API

PR checklist

• "closes #0000" is in the body of the PR description tolink the related issue
• new and changed code istested
• Plotting related features are demonstrated in anexample
• New Features andAPI Changes are noted with adirective and release note
• Documentation complies withgeneral anddocstring guidelines