New York Marathon 1983

LeRoy Neiman's painting captures the New York Marathon in a whirlwind of color. Here, the raised arms of the victor, signaling triumph, echo across millennia. Consider the "orant" pose, a gesture found in early Christian art and ancient Roman depictions of prayer. It appears in the catacombs, a symbol of hope and divine connection. Neiman's runner, bathed in the chromatic fervor of the race, unknowingly embodies this ancient posture. This is not mere coincidence. The collective unconscious, as Jung would suggest, buries primal gestures deep within us. The elation of victory, the striving for excellence—these are timeless human drives, resurfacing here in a modern spectacle. The raised arms become a conduit, linking the marathon runner to a lineage of figures reaching for something beyond themselves. A powerful reminder of our shared human spirit.