Note on Art

Note on Art

A note from LeRoy Neiman on his artistic process, spectacle, and leisure culture.

This note from LeRoy Neiman interrogates the artist’s interest in class. He writes: “My [works] were not critical images. Just causal observations made into structured scenes a la Neiman.” He continues, “self-expression penetrating insights.” This self-characterization then points to the complex contradictions embedded in the artist’s gaze—e.g. tensions between objectivity and subjectivity, voyeurism and enmeshment, criticality and survey. This note, which ultimately speaks to the artist’s interest in leisure culture, is then complimented by his copious notes on the aesthetics of labor.

LeRoy Neiman

LeRoy Neiman Foundation

LeRoy Neiman Foundation

c. 1990-2011

LeRoy Neiman

Property of the LeRoy Neiman Foundation; please consult the organization's archivist for further details.

Notes

Image/jpeg

English

Document

LN_Notes_1011

[no text]

The propertied Class
The response to my paintings of them recreating was beyond expectations. My painting[/s] (drawing[/s]) were[/is] not glorifying but depictions of the mannerism, their sense of competition, (and) rivalries (among themselves)[,] knowing they had security to fall back on.
Mine were not critical images. Just casual observations made into structured scenes a la Neiman—self-expression penetrating insights
Out of keeping—out of [step?]
I was not the only artist out of step
But one of the few who cut it
For example[,] man’s use of nature—([Augusta]) originally (was) a nursery
Master golf at Augusta (is) studied with grand trees. Lofty summits of trees man’s respect for and use of for their exclusive playground

Pencil on paper.