Carl Yastrzemski c. 1970s

LeRoy Neiman made this painting of Carl Yastrzemski with a burst of energetic marks and a spirited palette of reds, blues, greens and yellows. I imagine Neiman attacking the canvas with thick daubs of paint, building up the image through layers of color and texture. You can almost feel the physicality of the paint itself, how it's been pushed and pulled across the surface. I bet Neiman was thinking about how to capture the essence of Yaz's swing. The way he's used those broad strokes, especially around the figure’s arm, evokes movement and power. It’s like the painting is vibrating with the force of the swing. Reminds me of de Kooning’s dynamic brushwork, but with a more figurative bent. You know, painting is like a conversation between artists across time. We’re all borrowing, stealing, and riffing off each other’s ideas. And ultimately, it's that ongoing exchange that keeps painting alive and kicking!