Abstract art often leaves people feeling puzzled or even frustrated. You might have seen a large blue canvas with a single white line, or a splash of white paint on a black background, and wondered, “What does this mean?” It might seem like something a child could create. However, to truly appreciate abstract art, we need to ask ourselves: why is it valuable to create art that doesn’t look like anything specific?
The main goal of abstract art is to move past literal representation and tap directly into emotions. Similar to music, abstract art aims to reflect or give shape to our inner feelings and moods. These emotions might be straightforward, like anger or calmness, but often they are complex and hard to describe with words. Instead of saying, “This painting doesn’t look like anything,” we should ask, “What emotions does this artwork evoke? What part of the human experience is it trying to express?”
Cy Twombly, a renowned abstract artist, was born in 1928 in Lexington, Virginia. His father was a pitcher for the Chicago White Sox, akin to being a Premier League footballer today. Twombly, originally named Edwin Parker Twombly, was nicknamed Cy after the famous baseball player Cy Young. He attended a prestigious private school and later moved to New York to study art in the early 1950s.
Twombly’s life took a transformative turn when he traveled around the Mediterranean. He settled in Rome, where he developed his unique abstract style. While he was inspired by Roman and Renaissance art, Twombly focused on capturing the inner states of humanity, much like ancient artists depicted the outer world.
Consider Twombly’s “Panorama” from 1955, housed in the Museum of Modern Art in New York. The lines on the canvas resemble mysterious writing on a blackboard, capturing the feeling of being on the verge of understanding something. This artwork reflects the complexity of thought and emotion, portraying ambition and confusion.
Twombly admired figurative art, especially the works of 17th-century painter Nicolas Poussin. However, Twombly sought to convey different ideas in his art. His painting “Hero and Leander” references a tragic Greek love story. Instead of depicting the physical scene, Twombly illustrates the emotional essence of love—the longing and effort to connect with someone deeply cherished.
Twombly dedicated his career to portraying our inner lives, helping us communicate these experiences to others. Words often fall short, but abstract art offers a more elegant expression. Twombly’s work sometimes includes simple, doodle-like writing, resembling graffiti. This style captures urgency and excitement, challenging societal norms to foster personal growth and spiritual refinement.
Twombly passed away in 2011 in Rome at the age of 83, having witnessed his art gain significant recognition. His paintings explore the profound, private, and often inexpressible aspects of human experience, ensuring his legacy endures alongside the great Romans he admired.
Abstract art invites us to look beyond appearances and engage with the emotions it seeks to evoke. By understanding the intentions behind abstract works, we can appreciate their depth and complexity. Cy Twombly’s legacy highlights the power of art to communicate the inexpressible and connect us with the profound aspects of the human experience.
Choose an abstract artwork, either from Cy Twombly or another artist, and spend a few minutes observing it. Write down the emotions it evokes in you. Then, create a visual map that connects these emotions with colors, shapes, or lines. Share your map with classmates and discuss the different interpretations.
Using basic art supplies, create your own piece of abstract art. Focus on expressing a specific emotion or mood without using recognizable forms. Afterward, present your artwork to the class and explain the emotions you intended to convey and the techniques you used.
Select one abstract artwork and one figurative artwork. Analyze both pieces, focusing on how each conveys emotion and meaning. Write a short essay comparing the effectiveness of each style in expressing complex emotions and discuss your findings with peers.
Research Cy Twombly’s influences, such as Roman and Renaissance art, and identify elements from these periods in his work. Create a presentation that highlights these influences and how Twombly transformed them into his unique abstract style.
Form small groups and discuss the legacy of Cy Twombly and abstract art in general. Consider questions like: How does abstract art challenge traditional art forms? What role does it play in contemporary society? Share your group’s insights with the class.
Abstract – Existing in thought or as an idea but not having a physical or concrete existence, often used to describe a style of art that does not attempt to represent external reality. – The abstract painting in the gallery evoked a sense of mystery and intrigue, challenging viewers to interpret its meaning.
Art – The expression or application of human creative skill and imagination, typically in a visual form such as painting or sculpture, producing works to be appreciated primarily for their beauty or emotional power. – The art exhibit featured a diverse range of styles, from classical sculptures to modern installations.
Emotions – Intense feelings that are directed at someone or something, often explored in literature and art to convey human experiences. – The novel’s vivid descriptions of the protagonist’s emotions allowed readers to deeply empathize with her struggles.
Experience – The knowledge or skill acquired by a period of practical involvement in an activity, often reflected in literature and art as a means of conveying authenticity. – The author’s personal experience in the war lent a powerful authenticity to his narrative.
Legacy – Something transmitted by or received from an ancestor or predecessor, often used in literature to explore themes of heritage and influence. – The artist’s legacy lives on through the enduring impact of her groundbreaking work on contemporary art.
Twombly – Referring to Cy Twombly, an American painter known for his large-scale, freely scribbled, calligraphic-style works. – The museum’s new exhibit on Twombly highlights his unique approach to abstract expressionism.
Canvas – A strong, coarse unbleached cloth used as a surface for oil painting, often symbolizing the beginning of a creative process. – The artist stared at the blank canvas, contemplating the possibilities it held for her next masterpiece.
Literature – Written works, especially those considered of superior or lasting artistic merit, often reflecting cultural and social contexts. – The course on 19th-century literature provided insights into the societal changes of the era through its novels and poetry.
Complexity – The state or quality of being intricate or complicated, often a characteristic of sophisticated literature and art. – The complexity of the novel’s plot kept readers engaged and prompted deep analysis in literary discussions.
Expression – The process of making known one’s thoughts or feelings, a fundamental aspect of both art and literature. – The poet’s expression of love and loss resonated deeply with the audience, capturing universal human experiences.
