Joie de Vivre

Painter LeRoy Neiman died yesterday at the age of 91. His art was bold and colorful, as was the man himself. He had a huge mustache, wore flamboyant clothes and smoked big Cuban cigars. Often dismissed by critics as being "superficial," his work is nothing if not joyful.

In the 1950's, he began cartoon drawings for Playboy which continued on for more than fifty years. He said, "Playboy made the good life a reality for me, and made it the subject matter of my paintings; not affluence and luxury as such, but joie de vivre itself."

Joie de vivre, the joy of living.

Susan

"Joe DiMaggio," by LeRoy Neiman