Sammy Davis at Auditions for ‘Golden Boy’ Majestic Theatre, April 23rd 1964

LeRoy Neiman captured Sammy Davis at the Majestic Theatre in '69, using ink and wash, as a form of reportage. I bet Neiman was moving fast, trying to keep up with Sammy and the buzz of the audition. There's a kind of urgency in the line work. I can almost feel Neiman sketching quickly, trying to catch the essence of the scene before it vanishes. The brown wash adds depth and shadow, grounding the figures in the space, but it’s the lines that really sing here. I can imagine him focusing on the line of a shoulder, the tilt of a head, distilling gestures into a few strokes. It reminds me of Hockney's line drawings, that same economy and confidence. You get the sense that Neiman’s not just recording what he sees, but also trying to capture the energy, the vibe of Sammy Davis at the height of his powers. Artists, we are all just trying to capture something and share it with the world.