Sammy Davis at Auditions for ‘Golden Boy’ Majestic Theatre, April 23rd 1964

LeRoy Neiman made this sketch of Sammy Davis at the Majestic Theatre in 1969, likely with ink or marker on paper. It’s all about the speedy gesture, a way of capturing a fleeting moment as it unfolds. Neiman's line is so alive, it practically dances off the page. Look at how he renders the figures in the audience, just a few strokes, yet we get a sense of their presence and anticipation. And that railing in the upper right, looping and curling, somehow both decorative and functional. The color is reduced to a warm monochrome, giving the image a sense of immediacy and intimacy, as if we're right there in the room with Sammy Davis. The drawing reminds me of Matisse’s line drawings, economical yet full of expression. What I find compelling is how Neiman embraces the unfinished, the imperfect, reminding us that art is not about capturing reality, but about capturing a feeling, an energy, a moment in time.