“Nicola’s Irises” is an abstract artwork by Cy Twombly, created in 1990 and associated with the Neo-Expressionism art movement. The painting is characterized by dynamic brushstrokes and a vivid palette, conveying the erratic vitality of blooming irises.
The artwork conveys a sense of spontaneity and vibrant energy. Broad, gestural strokes form the stems and leaves of what can be interpreted as iris flowers, primarily in dark hues that contrast starkly with the white background. The blossoms themselves are rendered in explosive bursts of red and white paint, applied with a looseness that suggests movement and an ephemeral quality. The colors appear to be layered, with underpainting showing through in places, adding depth and complexity to the composition.
Twombly’s work often blurs the line between painting and drawing, and “Nicola’s Irises” is no exception; the lines seem to have been sketched quickly and with great force, hinting at a directness of expression and an emotional immediacy. The abstract quality of the painting means that the forms are suggestive rather than literal, inviting viewers to engage imaginatively with the work and to draw their own connections to the natural forms the title references.
