Violet Grey with Lines, a 1961 painting by Antoni Tàpies (born 13 December, 1923; died 6 February, 2012); in the collection of the National Galleries of Scotland
(via goodmemory)
Robert Motherwell (American, 1915-1991). Pancho Villa, Dead and Alive, 1943. Cut-and-pasted printed and painted papers, wood veneer, gouache, oil, and ink on board. 28 1/4 x 35 7/8 in
(via goodmemory)
“
DS: But were you saying before that sometimes, while you’re working on a painting, a title comes and then that title influences how you go on with the painting. Did you say that just now or did I misunderstand you?
CT: No, in the large paintings it changed, but actually I didn’t have an idea of which one of the three titles it would be until at Houston I decided on Catullus. Everything is very flexible; it is with me and very quick in changing. Although I must say I have a certain order in my mind, but as far as painting goes there’s enormous - probably more than with a lot of people - freedom. Because I have to get in a state of mind. And that’s why I’ve slowed down. Before, I used to smoke and look, because smoking is very conducive to stimulating the mind. Finally I had to stop because it was overstimulating my lungs. I sort of work off and on and I usually paint eight hours and never eat. And I might have some wine to stimulate a free passage of thought. And I used to have always music playing. What is that painting of mine in Philadelphia? Is it Fifty Days in Iliam? It’s very strange, no one has ever mentioned it. Have you ever seen it? Well it’s one of a large group of paintings. It’s called Fifty Days in Iliam; I spelt it I-L-I-A-M, which is not correct. It’s U-M. But I wanted that, I wanted the A for Achilles; I always think of A as Achilles; I wanted the A there and no one ever wrote and told me that I had misspelt Ilium. I’m saying anyone in America.
DS: So what did they do, just change the title or leave it?
CT: No they still called it Iliam, but no one ever noticed that.
”— Cy Twombly | Writings 2 (2000, David Sylvester)
