Ides of March 1962

Cy Twombly made this painting, Ides of March, with scribbled lines and bursts of dark color, letting the process lead the way. The surface feels raw, almost like a fleeting thought captured in a hurry. Look at the wiry strokes—they’re like nervous energy made visible. The blacks and greens are applied so freely, it’s as if Twombly is wrestling with something, maybe a memory or a feeling. See how the black pools at the top? It's heavy, like a storm cloud. Then, the lighter scribbles reach out, tentative, questioning. It reminds me of Joan Mitchell, her paintings also danced on that edge between chaos and control. Ultimately, Twombly invites us to embrace the messy, unresolved aspects of art—and life.