Jean Ratelle 1972

Curator: This is LeRoy Neiman's "Jean Ratelle" from 1972, rendered in oil paint. Neiman was known for his energetic depictions of sporting events. Editor: Wow, the impasto is so thick you can almost feel the rush of the game! The texture created by the paint application alone communicates motion and energy, the visible materiality here is incredible. Curator: Absolutely, and thinking about hockey as a social space, what do these kind of images say about representations of masculinity in the 70s? We can think about the spectacle, and the specific gendering that exists within these sporting environments. It's clearly a gendered activity, captured by a male artist. Editor: And the way Neiman used oil paint, this application, moves beyond representation. Think about the cost, the ready availability to him, this isn’t folk art born of necessity using found materials. Oil signifies value, privilege and access, which creates layers to this work. Curator: Right. And by choosing to paint Ratelle, a star player for the New York Rangers, Neiman is aligning himself with a particular narrative, celebrating a certain kind of athlete, while potentially marginalizing others. It's not simply a snapshot; it's a curated portrayal, reflecting societal values of the time. Editor: Considering the visible brushstrokes, the almost abstract quality of the figures…Neiman’s studio process here, isn't obscured; it's highlighted. Curator: I'm curious about what we choose to immortalize and who gets that spotlight. Editor: Material and action elevate the familiar. Seeing this, I think of raw physical effort converted into spectacle through precise labor, which allows it to endure decades later. Curator: It truly does leave you considering all of that. Thank you! Editor: Thank you.