Pink Nude 1961

This is "Pink Nude" by LeRoy Neiman, and it's all about juicy color and bold moves. Neiman uses thick paint, dragged and dabbed across the surface, like he's wrestling the image into being. Check out the way the pink of the figure bleeds into the pink of the chair. It's like she's sinking into it, becoming one with the plushness. The green jabs around her, electric and alive. It's not just a backdrop; it's part of the feeling. You can almost hear the brushstrokes zinging off the canvas. Neiman reminds me a bit of Joan Mitchell, not in style exactly, but in the way he lets the paint itself do the talking. It's messy, sure, but that's where the energy comes from. It's not about perfection; it's about the thrill of the ride.