Note on Art
Dublin Core
Title
Note on Art
Subject
A personal note from LeRoy Neiman on his artistic reference to Abraham Lincoln.
Description
This note from LeRoy Neiman provides background for the artist's print of Abraham Lincoln. The record reveals his childhood interest in the former president as well as his later fascination with the figure's cultural capital, facial hair, and distinctive character. Neiman's print, widely distributed, achieved fair commerical successs. This record was most likley made in preparation for the artist's memoir, All Told.
Creator
LeRoy Neiman
Source
LeRoy Neiman Foundation
Publisher
LeRoy Neiman Foundation
Date
c. 1990-2011
Contributor
LeRoy Neiman
Rights
Property of the LeRoy Neiman Foundation; please consult the organization's archivist for further details.
Relation
Notes, LN_Notes_1673_01,LN_Notes_1673_02, LN_Notes_1677, LN_Notes_1658, LN_Notes_1674, LN_Notes_1667, LN_Notes_1655, LN_Notes_2250, LN_Notes_1995, LN_Notes_923_01,LN_Notes_923_02, LN_Notes_919_01,LN_Notes_919_02, LN_Notes_1871_01,LN_Notes_1871_02, LN_Notes_1702,LN_Notes_1703, LN_Notes_1903_01, LN_Notes_1903_02
Format
Image/jpeg
Language
English
Type
Document
Identifier
LN_Notes_2436_01; LN_Notes_2436_02
Coverage
New York (N.Y.) New York
Text Item Type Metadata
Text
ADD
INSERT
LINCOLN
[…]
When I was 1- years old only 65 years after Lincoln’s assassination people still lived who had seen him live, even talked to him.
He was still real. (There was a salty old school Janitor in our neighborhood who claimed he conversed with Abe at Gettysburg. Certainly a bullshitter it was possible and believable)
Lincoln born 1809 when Lincoln was 12 Napoleon died in 1821
Around 8 or 9 I did a daily comic strip. I called “Honest Abe” My abe was inspired by a Mathew Brady photo of Lincoln tall and posing (IN A BLACK SILK STOVE PIPE HAT) General Mc Clenans field ten Headquarters during the Civil War. An erect all black stick figure. elongated. I always depicted him towering over whoever was in the photo. I colored my strip on Sundays
over /
INSERT
Lincoln was a very real compelling figure to me rising from on impoverished, uneducated background in rural Kentucky to the Presidency
I put up balloons in the frames with sayings but no story line.
I livened the strip up with cameos by Joe Palooka, Moon Mullins, Jiggs and Tillie the Toiler – (Anne Strip) – favorite of mine
INSERT
Lincoln did no grow his beard until 5 years before his death
First bearded president – started bear after he was elected
was photographed hundreds of times in studio photos His photos sold for 1 dollar
stood 6’ x 4 “ 180 lbs
Lincoln exploited the photos as Napoleon did the artist. Napoleons every battle ceremony, mood was lionized by the painter Raffet the most favored among dozens
Just as Pope Paul II was the first media pope
all presidents no facial hair until Lincoln
all presidents had facial hair until Wilson
all presidents are clean shaven
As a result of one of my mothers spring cleaning rampages the strip along with other works were unintentionally destroyed
INSERT
LINCOLN
[…]
When I was 1- years old only 65 years after Lincoln’s assassination people still lived who had seen him live, even talked to him.
He was still real. (There was a salty old school Janitor in our neighborhood who claimed he conversed with Abe at Gettysburg. Certainly a bullshitter it was possible and believable)
Lincoln born 1809 when Lincoln was 12 Napoleon died in 1821
Around 8 or 9 I did a daily comic strip. I called “Honest Abe” My abe was inspired by a Mathew Brady photo of Lincoln tall and posing (IN A BLACK SILK STOVE PIPE HAT) General Mc Clenans field ten Headquarters during the Civil War. An erect all black stick figure. elongated. I always depicted him towering over whoever was in the photo. I colored my strip on Sundays
over /
INSERT
Lincoln was a very real compelling figure to me rising from on impoverished, uneducated background in rural Kentucky to the Presidency
I put up balloons in the frames with sayings but no story line.
I livened the strip up with cameos by Joe Palooka, Moon Mullins, Jiggs and Tillie the Toiler – (Anne Strip) – favorite of mine
INSERT
Lincoln did no grow his beard until 5 years before his death
First bearded president – started bear after he was elected
was photographed hundreds of times in studio photos His photos sold for 1 dollar
stood 6’ x 4 “ 180 lbs
Lincoln exploited the photos as Napoleon did the artist. Napoleons every battle ceremony, mood was lionized by the painter Raffet the most favored among dozens
Just as Pope Paul II was the first media pope
all presidents no facial hair until Lincoln
all presidents had facial hair until Wilson
all presidents are clean shaven
As a result of one of my mothers spring cleaning rampages the strip along with other works were unintentionally destroyed
Original Format
Pencil, color pencil, and marker on paper.
Files
Collection
Citation
LeRoy Neiman, “Note on Art,” LeRoy Neiman Foundation, accessed April 16, 2024, https://leroyneimanfoundation.omeka.net/items/show/230.