Tom Seaver 1978

Curator: Well, look at this explosion of color. LeRoy Neiman’s 1978 painting, "Tom Seaver," it's a total celebration, right? Editor: It's dynamism distilled. But behind the bravado, I see the commodification of athleticism. The hero-worship aspect troubles me, especially considering the social and political issues glossed over in professional sports during the late 70s. Curator: Whoa, hold on. I think Neiman was just having a bit of fun here. I get it that this is dripping with hyper-masculine energy but this image practically hums with the energy of the pitcher's wind-up and release; I see a virtuoso performance depicted through equally virtuosic brushstrokes! It's all impulsive. Editor: Impulsive maybe, but that exuberance serves a purpose. Neiman's style helped cement a certain iconic, masculine vision. Look how the figure dominates the canvas! That Fauvist color palette further reinforces that powerful, almost god-like status athletes held – and still hold – in American culture. The way painting styles have helped sell athletic and often macho personas, since well... forever. Curator: I am not disagreeing that gender constructs permeate through pretty much every image and cultural practice! It’s not like, as the artist, I don’t think about any of this as it is impossible to remove oneself from the reality one is in when creating. At least, I always struggle to remove myself from it completely, as it always feels necessary to respond somehow. In this painting though, the bright reds and yellows... and his expression which is somewhat melancholic… there's something tragic about it, too. Editor: It does draw your eye. That face seems almost weary amidst all the bravado, reflecting the pressures of fame and performance perhaps, but I see that as an unintended consequence. Really the goal seems to lionize and deify talent in exchange for cultural and ultimately commercial rewards. This is naive art taken to a much more aggressive level. I guess it speaks volumes that this wasn’t commissioned by Tom Seaver himself, right? Curator: True. You make me see it a bit differently. All that color maybe hides some discomfort and the sadness that lies within hyper-performativity. Editor: It's layered, for sure, and messy, just like the world. A worthwhile mirror.