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Cy Twombly — Roman Notes: plate I
Cy Twombly

Roman Notes: plate I

A sweeping interplay of gestural marks, looping scrawls, and smudged crayon-like strokes in muted earth tones and dusty pastels evoke the layered history and weathered surfaces of Rome. Twombly's characteristic fusion of writing, drawing, and painting creates an almost archaeological visual language, as if ancient inscriptions and graffiti have been excavated and reimagined. The composition breathes with a raw, improvisational energy that blurs the boundary between text and image, memory and mark.

Medium
Offset lithograph in colours, on heavy offset paper, the full sheet,

🔨 Auction Lot

Evening & Day Editions

December 12, 2013

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About this work

Cy Twombly, Roman Notes: plate I

A sweeping interplay of gestural marks, looping scrawls, and smudged crayon-like strokes in muted earth tones and dusty pastels evoke the layered history and weathered surfaces of Rome. Twombly's characteristic fusion of writing, drawing, and painting creates an almost archaeological visual language, as if ancient inscriptions and graffiti have been excavated and reimagined. The composition breathes with a raw, improvisational energy that blurs the boundary between text and image, memory and mark.

Medium
Offset lithograph in colours, on heavy offset paper, the full sheet,
Seen at
Phillips, New York, London, Hong Kong

Related themes

20th Century, Contemplative Mood, Text And Mark Making, Renowned Artist, Male Artist, Muted Colors, American Artist, Abstract Expressionism, Gestural Abstraction, Large Format, Lithograph

More works by Cy Twombly

Collected by

David Chen, Rocky Lindt, Art Institute of Chicago, Alex Capecelatro