Museum Practice: Cy Twombly at the MFA Boston

Cy Twombly, Leaving Paphos Ringed with Waves (III) (detail), 2009. Acrylic on canvas. The Eli and Edythe L. Broad Collection. © Cy Twombly Foundation.

Art is not created in a vacuum; it is always a product of the historical, cultural, and social context in which it is produced. This idea is at the heart of Howard Becker's seminal book, Art Worlds, which argues that art is the product of a complex web of relationships among artists, collectors, critics, and other cultural gatekeepers. In this context, the Cy Twombly exhibit currently on display at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston offers an interesting case study in how an artist's relationship to tradition and history can shape their creative vision. Twombly, a central figure in the postwar American art world, sought inspiration from ancient Greek, Roman, and Egyptian cultures throughout his career. His fascination with the mythology, poetry, and archeology of antiquity shaped his approach to art-making, and he sought to demonstrate that "Modern Art isn’t dislocated, but something with roots, tradition, and continuity."

In the "Change in Art Worlds" chapter of Art Worlds, Becker describes how the changing relationships between artists, collectors, and critics can lead to changes in artistic styles and practices. The rise of the modern art market, for example, meant that artists were increasingly producing works for a commercial audience rather than for themselves or their peers. This led to the emergence of new artistic styles and movements, such as Pop Art and Minimalism, which were designed to be easily consumed by a wider audience.

Annabelle d’Huart, Interior of Cy Twombly’s apartment in Rome, 1978, printed 2017.

Twombly's relationship to tradition and history offers an interesting counterpoint to this trend. Rather than trying to produce art that was easily consumable, Twombly sought to draw on the past to create something new and relevant to contemporary audiences. His work, with its allusions to ancient myths and cultures, challenged viewers to engage with history and tradition in new ways. By placing Twombly's work alongside ancient art from the MFA's collection, the exhibition "Making Past Present: Cy Twombly" invites visitors to see how Twombly's creative vision was shaped by his engagement with the past.

At the same time, Twombly's work also embodies many of the characteristics of the postwar American art world described by Becker. His work is gestural, abstract, and often difficult to read, and it requires a certain level of expertise to appreciate. This means that his work has always been primarily aimed at an elite audience of collectors, critics, and other cultural gatekeepers, rather than the wider public. Overall, the Cy Twombly exhibit offers an intriguing glimpse into the relationship between art and tradition, and how an artist's engagement with history and mythology can shape their creative vision. At the same time, it also offers an example of how the changing relationships between artists, collectors, and critics can lead to new styles and movements in the art world.

Interview

Debbie: Hi Samantha, have you been enjoying the Cy Twombly exhibit?

Samantha: Yes, I have. I find it really interesting how Twombly draws inspiration from ancient Greek, Roman, and Egyptian cultures.

Debbie: Yes, that's definitely a key theme in his work. It reminds me of these really common ideas talked about in the art history field, about the art world being a collaborative effort between artists, curators, collectors, and other professionals.

Samantha: That's an interesting connection. How do you see it playing out in this exhibit?

Debbie: Well, I think Twombly's fascination with ancient cultures is a result of his engagement with other professionals in the art world, such as archaeologists and art historians. He was able to access ancient artifacts through his connections and incorporate them into his art.

Samantha: That's a really good point. It shows how the art world is not just about the artists themselves, but also about the networks of people and institutions that support them.

Debbie: Exactly. And I think the exhibit also highlights how Twombly's work is not just a reflection of his own individual genius, but also a product of the cultural and historical context in which he was working.

Samantha: Yes, that's true. It's interesting how he was able to take inspiration from the past and make it relevant to his own time and place.

Debbie: Definitely. It shows how art is always in dialogue with the past and the present, and how artists are constantly reinterpreting and reinventing what came before them.

Samantha: I think that's a really powerful idea. It reminds us that art is not just about beauty or aesthetic pleasure, but also about engaging with our shared human history and culture.

Debbie: Absolutely. And that's what makes exhibits like this so important – they help us to connect with that shared history and understand our place within it.