Join The Collection to save, track, and explore works like this.

Cy Twombly — "The line is a visible action. The line, however supple, light, or uncertain it may be, always refers to a force, to a direction; it is an energon, a labor which reveals - which makes legible - the trace of its pulsion and its expenditure."

"The line is a visible action. The line, however supple, light, or uncertain it may be, always refers to a force, to a direction; it is an energon, a labor which reveals - which makes legible - the trace of its pulsion and its expenditure."

1971

A 1971 work by Cy Twombly created with oil, pencil, and wax crayon on paper that embodies his artistic philosophy about the line as a physical manifestation of force and action. The work exemplifies Abstract Expressionism's emphasis on the artist's gesture and energy.

Medium: oil, pencil, wax crayon on paper
Spotted At: Auction House · Phillips

🔨 Auction Lot

20th Century & Contemporary Art Evening Sale

May 17, 2018

Start the Discussion

Request access to join the discussion

More by Cy Twombly

Captiva

1991

Natural History Part I: Mushrooms

1974

Untitled

Request access to see more

Collectors of Cy Twombly

✦

David Chen

1 owned

Also spotted by

✦

Rocky Lindt

1 spotted

✦

Art Institute of Chicago

1 spotted

✦

Alex Capecelatro

1 spotted

Cy Twombly, "The line is a visible action. The line, however supple, light, or uncertain it may be, always refers to a force, to a direction; it is an energon, a labor which reveals - which makes legible - the trace of its pulsion and its expenditure.", 1971

Medium

oil, pencil, wax crayon on paper

Year

1971

Seen at

Phillips, New York, London, Hong Kong

"The line is a visible action. The line, however supple, light, or uncertain it may be, always refers to a force, to a direction; it is an energon, a labor which reveals - which makes legible - the trace of its pulsion and its expenditure."

Start the Discussion

About this work

Cy Twombly, "The line is a visible action. The line, however supple, light, or uncertain it may be, always refers to a force, to a direction; it is an energon, a labor which reveals - which makes legible - the trace of its pulsion and its expenditure.", 1971

Related themes

More works by Cy Twombly

Collected by