Roulette Las Vegas 1958

LeRoy Neiman painted this feverish scene of a Las Vegas roulette table, probably with oils or acrylics, and definitely with a whole lotta verve. The painting is all about gesture, each dab and stroke loaded with energy. Neiman's clearly having fun here, smearing and swirling the paint like he's placing bets on every number. Look at those reds, greens, and blues, so alive they practically vibrate! The textures seem thick, almost sculptural, so you can imagine him attacking the canvas, lost in the moment. I wonder, was he thinking about the fleeting nature of luck, or the gaudy spectacle of Vegas? Maybe he was just chasing the thrill of the game itself. It reminds me of some of Guston's later, more cartoonish works, where the looseness becomes the message. It's like Neiman's telling us that life, like a roulette wheel, is a messy, unpredictable spin. Artists riff off of each other, you know? It’s about the play and embracing the uncertainty that comes with it.