Dineen, St. Louis, American League, from the White Border series (T206) for the American Tobacco Company 1909 - 1911

This baseball card of Dineen from St. Louis was made by the American Tobacco Company, and it’s fascinating to think about the process that made it. The colors and marks have this great feeling of being built up layer by layer. If you look closely at the gray of Dineen’s uniform, you’ll see it’s not just one flat color. It's more like a field of tiny speckles that give it real depth. The ‘STL’ logo is really direct, almost stamped on, while the baseball itself is a soft, round form, caught in a moment of action, right before being thrown. And the pink in his cheeks! It's a dash of color that brings him to life. I’m reminded of Milton Avery’s flattened forms and simplified colors; both find a sweet spot between representation and abstraction. This card isn't just a picture, it's a little world of touch and sensation.