Dancers in the Koutoubia Palace, Tangier 1969

LeRoy Neiman made 'Dancers in the Koutoubia Palace, Tangier' with a loose, expressive application of paint that captures a fleeting moment. The color palette here is really intense, and the way Neiman uses it, feels like he's trying to catch the energy of the scene more than depicting it realistically. For me, that's what artmaking is all about - trying to catch a vibe. Looking closely, you can see how the texture of the paint contributes to the overall feeling. It’s thick in some areas, creating a sense of depth and movement, while in others it’s more transparent. The dancers are rendered in bright yellows and pinks, which really makes them pop against the cooler blues and greens of the room. I particularly love the swirling strokes around the figures, which seem to echo their movements and add to the sense of energy. Neiman's work reminds me of the Ashcan School painters, who were also interested in capturing everyday life with a raw, unfiltered approach. It’s a reminder that art is always in conversation with what came before, and that there's always room for new voices and perspectives.