CONTOUR THE BABE

I've always enjoyed looking at this two-toned abstract facial design of the Babe. I knew right away it was Babe Ruth’s face, and so do most people familiar with the Babe.  It's a clever piece of work, breaking up light from shadow, catching the bend of the nose, the angle of the eye, the profile in light and dark.  It works so simply.  But if you move any of those lines around, the lines which define the shapes of red and white, alter their juxtaposition, or re-route any border line, the likeness would disappear.  The face would become that of another, or would cease to resemble anyone at all.  That is the nature of Abstraction - it makes sense when accompanied by certain visual outside information (as in this case with the contours of Babe Ruth's face), but without it, becomes indecipherable.Cover of a Reach Sporting Goods booklet promoting baseball gloves with the endorsement of Babe Ruth. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  circa 1925.