Pool Room 1971

LeRoy Neiman made this painting of a pool room with paint, and it’s like the scene is bursting with energy, a real process of dynamic mark-making. The colors are so vibrant, right? Like he’s not just showing us a game, but the whole atmosphere, the excitement. Look at the surface, how the paint is applied in these bold, almost slapdash strokes. It's thick in places, like around the figures, giving them weight, presence. Then, elsewhere it thins out, becoming almost transparent, creating this sense of light and movement. See that yellow smear behind the player on the right? It’s pure energy, right? Neiman's work reminds me a bit of some of the German Expressionists, like Kirchner, in its use of color and its focus on capturing the feeling of a scene. It’s all about the experience, the vibe, the moment. And that’s what makes art so cool, it’s not just about what you see, but what you feel.