Camino Real (II) - Cy Twombly

A late-career abstract work by Cy Twombly, featuring bold, gestural loops of red and orange paint against a bright lime-green background.

Camino Real (II) is a late work by the American artist Cy Twombly, completed in 2011. The composition is defined by large, looping gestural marks that dominate the canvas. Twombly employs a high-contrast palette, placing thick, fluid strokes of red and orange paint against a bright, lime-green ground. The application of paint is aggressive and physical, with drips and runs visible across the surface, suggesting the speed and force of the artist's hand.

This piece reflects Twombly's lifelong interest in the relationship between drawing and painting. Rather than creating a representational image, the work focuses on the act of mark-making itself. The loops do not form recognisable letters or symbols, yet they possess a rhythmic quality that suggests a form of non-verbal communication. The paint is applied with a sense of urgency, and the vertical drips provide a counterpoint to the circular, swirling motions of the primary shapes.

Twombly spent much of his career in Italy, and his work often draws upon classical themes and Mediterranean light. In this late series, the colour choices are particularly bold, moving away from the muted tones of his earlier graphite-heavy works. The interaction between the saturated warm colours and the cool, acidic green background creates a visual tension that vibrates across the surface. This print captures the texture of the original acrylic application, allowing the viewer to observe the density of the pigment and the spontaneity of the brushwork. It is a direct example of Twombly's late-career focus on pure colour and expansive, energetic gesture.