LeRoy Neiman – Lion Couple – 1981 Hand-Signed Limited Edition Serigraph 244/300

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LeRoy Neiman – Lion Couple – 1981 Hand-Signed Limited Edition Serigraph 244/300
American Expressionist - Original limited-edition color serigraph (silkscreen) … Read more LeRoy Neiman – Lion Couple – 1981 Hand-Signed Limited Edition Serigraph 244/300
American Expressionist - Original limited-edition color serigraph (silkscreen) on paper - Signed and numbered 244/300
Image Dimensions: 28 × 38 inches (71.1 × 96.5 cm) - Framed Dimensions: 40 × 50 inches (101.6 × 127 cm)

Description
An extraordinary display of color, movement, and artistic expression, Lion Couple (1981) is a magnificent large-format, original limited-edition serigraph by celebrated American artist LeRoy Neiman (1921–2012), internationally recognized for his exuberant palette, energetic compositions, and distinctive interpretations of sports, wildlife, and contemporary life.This striking composition depicts a majestic male lion alongside a reclining lioness in a lush African savanna. Executed in Neiman's unmistakable expressionistic style, the work transforms a traditional wildlife subject into an electrifying interplay of brilliant colors, spontaneous gestures, and dynamic visual textures.Hand-signed in pencil by the artist and individually numbered 244/300, this impressive serigraph is beautifully presented in a substantial custom black gallery frame measuring 40 × 50 inches, making it an exceptional statement piece for a sophisticated residential or professional interior.

Visual Composition and Subject Matter
The Majestic Male Lion

Dominating the left side of the composition, an imposing male lion commands immediate attention. His magnificent mane unfolds in sweeping, almost explosive passages of golden yellow, cobalt blue, lavender, turquoise, and warm ochre.Depicted with his mouth partially open, revealing his teeth and tongue, the lion appears to be vocalizing or communicating with his companion. Neiman's vigorous, seemingly spontaneous strokes capture the animal's physical power and imposing presence while conveying an extraordinary sense of movement.Rather than relying on conventional anatomical realism, the artist constructs the lion's form through overlapping fields of color, contrasting tones, and rhythmic gestures.

The Reclining Lioness

Positioned prominently in the center-right foreground, a graceful lioness rests amid the tall savanna grasses.Her head is turned toward the male lion, creating an engaging visual relationship between the two animals. Her calm, attentive expression contrasts beautifully with the male's animated demeanor, lending the composition a sense of intimacy and natural interaction.Rendered in luminous yellows, peach, pale pink, turquoise, and violet, her form appears to emerge organically from the surrounding landscape.

The African Savanna

The lions occupy a lush, semi-abstract landscape animated by tall grasses, scattered trees, and richly colored vegetation.In the upper portion of the composition, a brilliant cobalt-blue sky contrasts dramatically with soft pink, apricot, and mint-green passages.The surrounding grasses and foliage are expressed through an intricate network of energetic marks, elongated strokes, and overlapping colors, creating a sense of movement throughout the composition.Rather than serving merely as a backdrop, the landscape becomes an essential component of Neiman's vibrant artistic interpretation.

Color Palette and Artistic Technique
One of the most remarkable characteristics of Lion Couple is its extraordinary chromatic intensity.Neiman employs an unconventional palette of electric blue, brilliant yellow, emerald green, turquoise, lavender, coral pink, and warm ochre, transforming the natural forms of the lions into a dazzling celebration of color.The artist's use of contrasting hues creates depth and dimensionality without depending upon traditional methods of shading.The composition is especially notable for its energetic, painterly appearance. Through the sophisticated layering of colors inherent in the serigraph process, Neiman recreates the visual character of spontaneous brushwork, palette-knife applications, and richly textured painted surfaces.

The result is a striking print that possesses much of the visual vitality and immediacy associated with an original expressionist painting.

Edition, Signature, and Presentation
This original color serigraph belongs to a limited edition of 300 individually numbered impressions.The present example is:

Hand-numbered 244/300 in pencil along the lower-left margin.

Hand-signed LeRoy Neiman in pencil along the lower-right margin.

Printed with generous margins surrounding the colorful composition.

Professionally presented in a substantial black gallery frame with a wide, light-colored mat and decorative crimson-red and deep-green accents.

The contrasting mat borders subtly complement the vivid colors within the composition, while the black outer frame provides a sophisticated, contemporary finish.Measuring an impressive 40 inches high by 50 inches wide, the framed artwork offers exceptional decorative presence.Its bold imagery and remarkable palette make it particularly well suited to contemporary, modern, transitional, and eclectic interiors, as well as executive offices, private collections, and sophisticated entertainment spaces.

Artist Biography – LeRoy Neiman (1921–2012)
LeRoy Neiman was one of the most recognizable and commercially successful American artists of the twentieth century, celebrated for his dynamic compositions, brilliant colors, and expressive depictions of sports, entertainment, wildlife, and contemporary culture.Born in St. Paul, Minnesota, Neiman developed an early interest in drawing and painting. Following his military service during World War II, he studied at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago under the G.I. Bill, subsequently joining its faculty as an instructor.Neiman achieved international recognition during the 1950s through his association with Hugh Hefner's Playboy magazine, where his illustrations and celebrated Man at His Leisure series documented an extraordinary range of cultural experiences, international destinations, sporting events, and glamorous social settings.His artistic career became especially associated with the world of professional sports. Neiman depicted some of the most celebrated athletes and sporting events of his generation, including Muhammad Ali, Joe Namath, Secretariat, and numerous Olympic competitions.His distinctive approach combined elements of Expressionism, Impressionism, and gestural abstraction, characterized by energetic brushwork, unconventional color combinations, and an extraordinary ability to capture movement and atmosphere.Although best known for his sporting subjects, Neiman maintained a lifelong fascination with wildlife and the natural world. His depictions of lions, tigers, elephants, horses, and other animals demonstrate the same exuberant energy and expressive freedom found throughout his celebrated sporting compositions.Works such as Lion Couple reveal Neiman's ability to transform familiar subjects into visually compelling compositions through his innovative use of color and movement.Neiman's paintings and limited-edition prints remain widely collected, and his artistic legacy continues through the LeRoy Neiman Foundation, which supports arts education and opportunities for emerging artists.A magnificent example of Neiman's celebrated wildlife imagery, Lion Couple combines the artist's unmistakable visual language with a substantial scale, vibrant palette, and the added desirability of an original pencil signature and individually numbered limited edition. See less