Underground Vegetal Structure XXV 1988

Romul Nutiu made this painting, Underground Vegetal Structure XXV, with sweeping strokes and a limited color palette, giving us a glimpse into the hidden world beneath our feet. Look at how Nutiu uses thick, expressive marks to build up the texture, especially where the dark browns and reds clash against the white. You can almost feel the weight and density of the soil. See how the paint is both transparent and opaque, creating depth and a sense of mystery? Near the top, there’s this one spot where dark tendrils reach out, as if feeling for something, and it reminds me of the constant searching and striving that's part of any creative process. Nutiu's work reminds me a bit of Cy Twombly, but with a more grounded, earthy feel. Both artists embrace a kind of raw, gestural mark-making. Ultimately, what I love about this piece is how it invites us to see the world in new ways, to appreciate the beauty in the unexpected, and to revel in the ambiguity that makes art so endlessly fascinating.