Lepanto, Part II 2001

Cy Twombly made Lepanto, Part II using paint, crayon, and graphite on canvas. The light blue ground feels like a sky, or even water, onto which these strange, exploding boats are floating. I love the sense of freedom in how the marks are made. The paint drips, the lines wobble, and everything feels like it’s on the verge of falling apart. Look closely at the way the orange and red hues bleed and blend, creating a sense of heat and energy. It's almost visceral, isn’t it? These colours contrast with the thin black lines that feel like scribbled notations or diagrams. The combination makes me think about the way he used color and line to create a sense of both chaos and order. Twombly always reminds me of Joan Mitchell, another abstract artist who wasn't afraid to embrace the messy, imperfect aspects of painting. And like Mitchell, Twombly shows us that art doesn't always have to be neat and tidy to be powerful.