In the Eye of the Beholder the Science of Face Perception

by Vicki Bruce and Andy Young.
Oxford University Press, New York, 1998. 352 pp., 189 illustrations, $39.95.
ISBN: 0-19-852440-4.

Reviewed by Wilfred Niels Arnold


Those of us who labor at the interface of the hard sciences and the visual arts cringe when we hear unorganized criticism of the work of some extraordinary painter, sculptor, or architect. Countering such diatribes with golden ratios, color theory and so forth is to no avail. All too often you will loose the battle of comparisons with the modest efforts of "Uncle Jack" or "our little Jill" because, they say, it all depends on, "the eye(s) of the beholder."

The intention of Professors Bruce and Young is quite different, namely to explain the science of recognition, with particular emphasis on the human face. In short, there are rules that are followed and working hypotheses that abound; and these not only hold water but have a remarkable span of age and ethnic background. They explain all of this in masterful fashion. Accordingly, I believe the authors would have been better served by just the second part of their title or something akin to "The Science of the Face," the exhibition at the Scottish National Portrait Gallery to which this book was timed.

On almost every page there are photographs, reproductions of art work, computer-manipulated studies, or graphics, which are nicely located with respect to the narrative. Many are in color and a good quality paper has been used throughout the volume. References to the original literature are far from encyclopedic but the 225 selections will probably be adequate for most of the wide and unspecialized audience intended. The subject index works and is generous enough to include some helpful double listings; for example 'dark and light patterns' is found under both 'dark' and 'light.' We always appreciate a separate name index, but the reference utility in this one would have been improved by including the years on each entry.

Each of the seven chapters follows a more or less graded development so that readers can go as far as they wish. I imagine that most people who pick up this attractive book will find themselves scanning the graphics and being pleasantly drawn into the theme. For instance, chapter 2 on the science of vision is rich in visual exercises which exemplify the huge contribution of the brain in interpreting signals beyond the relatively meagre ability of a camera, and the examples borrowed from Nicholas Wade, Salvador Dali and others are both profound and entertaining.

The authors seem to have had a little trouble in reaching a stopping point. A section entitled "perception of faces by newborn babies" turns out to be the last. Herein we encounter a geodesic hair net of current sensors being demonstrated on a baby. Everybody is smiling. Suddenly, in the final paragraph, the authors attempt a hundred word summary for the whole book. It seems to have been added as an afterthought, as if a deadline were looming. This will probably be corrected in a subsequent edition. Overall, the book has much of interest for a first encounter and will also be revisited.