The artwork titled “Proteus,” created by Cy Twombly in 1984, belongs to the Neo-Expressionism art movement and is classified as abstract art.
The artwork exhibits Twombly’s characteristic spontaneous brushwork and dynamic composition. Dominated by vibrant shades of red and pink, the central form resembles an abstracted and chaotic bouquet of flowers, merging and blending into the background. The splatters and strokes of paint suggest movement and emotion, encapsulating the essence of Neo-Expressionism through its raw and energetic execution. The delicacy of a single green stem balances the intensity of color above, while the artist’s signature and date subtly adorn the upper section, accenting the piece with a personal touch. The title “Proteus” is etched in faint, delicate letters at the bottom, alluding perhaps to the transformative and mutable nature of the form depicted.
