Coronation of Sesostris 2000

Cy Twombly made "Coronation of Sesostris" with paint, and possibly other media, on canvas. The way he let the paint drip and run feels almost like a performance – a dance with gravity. Up close, you can really see the physicality of the paint. Some areas are dense with layered marks, others have these delicate, almost translucent washes. Notice that cluster of red and yellow blooms on the right. The red is so intense; it vibrates against the white background. Those drips aren’t just accidents; they're part of the language, like the painting is breathing, or crying. For me, Twombly’s work always brings to mind Robert Rauschenberg, another artist who was unafraid to blur the lines between painting and sculpture, control and chance. In the end, it’s not about what it depicts, but about the raw energy of its making.