Nine Discourses on Commodus, Part IV 1963

Cy Twombly made this painting called Nine Discourses on Commodus, Part IV with wild abandon, and just look at the colours! Imagine the dance he did with his brush, swirling pinks, yellows, and reds on that cool gray canvas, letting the paint drip and streak as it pleased. I wonder what he was thinking, maybe about power, or the fleeting nature of life, or just the sheer joy of smearing color around. I love how the marks aren't trying to be anything but themselves, like a conversation between his hand, the paint, and the canvas. It reminds me of other painters like Joan Mitchell, who weren't afraid to let their feelings spill out onto the surface. It’s a beautiful, messy reminder that art is about feeling and thinking, not just seeing. It's a testament to the ongoing conversation between artists across time.