Untitled 1988

Cy Twombly made this untitled painting in 1998, and what strikes me is how he lets the paint do its thing, almost like he's conducting a little experiment on the canvas. There’s a physicality here, right? Thick globs, thin washes, splatters. That stroke up top, like a purple comet, it’s not trying to be anything other than itself – just a smear of color with its own juicy texture. Then you see that scribble down below, a tangle of marks that feels almost urgent. It's like he’s inviting us to witness the messy, unpredictable nature of painting. It reminds me a bit of Joan Mitchell, that same willingness to let the paint lead the way, to find meaning in the gesture. Twombly isn't trying to tell us a story, he's showing us a process, and that's where the beauty lies.