Lion Couple 1981

Curator: Here we have LeRoy Neiman’s "Lion Couple," created in 1981. Look at those strokes of acrylic on canvas! Editor: Oh, wow, it’s so vibrant! Almost jarring, in a way that's kind of exhilarating. It's a feeling, not just a picture of lions. I sense power but also a tenderness there. Curator: Yes, that expressive application of paint brings those qualities forward. Neiman was known for his energetic depictions of sporting events and celebrities, so it’s a bit of a change to see him turn his attention to wildlife, but his signature style remains unmistakable. We should observe how he uses colour here to shape the features of those two animals and give depth to what seems like the African Savanah. Editor: It makes me wonder about his process, what he was hoping to transmit from that context. Those daubs of paint—were they fast, spontaneous, fuelled by the sight? The physicality of creating something like this just seems immense. I guess my question would be how important is process? It may seem like I am just going for pure emotions with words like exhilerating. Curator: He may have aimed at translating motion and immediacy; however, I think you’ve tapped into the essence of it. And those bold strokes reflect an ethos, don't they? Mass production, mass culture? His work gained enormous popular appeal; one has to ask if Neiman saw his canvases like a printer might see a silkscreen... how to reach and touch many audiences simultaneously. Editor: Absolutely, in that regard, looking beyond that artistic representation, perhaps we could be looking at its reflection on the commercialization of art? How a piece's mass appeal influences its status, reception and circulation within different layers of the artworld... I see how this might relate to discussions around taste, value, and cultural capital too. Curator: Precisely! "Lion Couple," while seemingly simple at first glance, offers so much to consider—from expressive technique, his aesthetic sensibilities, to art world economics and circulation! Editor: And maybe, in the end, to reconnect with that raw animal energy!