Mark McGwire c. early 21th century

This is LeRoy Neiman’s painting of Mark McGwire, and it's all about energy. I see a process where the artist is right there, present in each brushstroke. Look at how Neiman builds up the image with these almost violent strokes of color, but somehow it all comes together to give you a sense of McGwire’s power and intensity. The colors are vivid, but not necessarily realistic. They're more about capturing a feeling than a photographic likeness. The red of his helmet pops, doesn't it? See how it's echoed in the smaller touches throughout the piece, creating a visual rhythm. Neiman always reminded me a bit of a more bombastic Kokoschka, both capturing the raw energy of a moment, but with a unique flair. Art, at its best, is this ongoing conversation, this playful back-and-forth across time.