Before the Race 1981

LeRoy Neiman made this painting, Before the Race, with bold strokes and a lush, grassy green palette. Imagine Neiman attacking the canvas, pushing and pulling the paint to conjure this vibrant scene. The overall texture feels thick, like he’s really laying it on, almost sculpting the figures out of color. I can picture him, brush loaded, stepping back, squinting, and then diving back in to capture the energy of the racetrack. There’s a red horse, almost bleeding into the scene, that commands your attention. It reminds me a bit of de Kooning, but with a specific narrative, like a sports illustration gone wild! The painting feels like a sketch, a moment, but it captures the nervous anticipation, the buzz before the race. It’s like Neiman is saying, “Let’s capture this feeling, this raw energy.” And that, in the end, is what painting is all about, that is, isn't it?