Cy Twombly, Plate IV, from Natural History Part I: Mushrooms, 1974

Plate IV, from Natural History Part I: Mushrooms, 1974 is a mixed media print on Rives Couronne paper from Cy Twombly's celebrated portfolio dedicated to the study of fungi. This striking work exemplifies Twombly's distinctive approach to mark-making, featuring mushroom forms rendered through his characteristic gestural marks, delicate lines, and subtle washes of color.

The print is from "Natural History Part I: Mushrooms," published in an edition of 98 by Propyläen Verlag, Berlin. This portfolio represents a departure from Twombly's previous works, as he delves into the organic forms and intricate textures of mushrooms. The series exemplifies Twombly's fascination with the natural world and his ability to translate its complexities into an abstract visual language.
In this work, Twombly employs lithography, grano-lithograph, and collotype techniques with hand-coloring in crayon to create richly textured surfaces that evoke the tactile quality of mushrooms. Beyond their botanical significance, the mushrooms in Twombly's series serve as symbols of transformation, growth, and decay. Through their ephemeral nature and intricate structures, mushrooms embody the cyclical rhythms of life and death, echoing themes present throughout Twombly's body of work.

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