Layers of ancient and modern graffiti Twombly saw on his travels to Rome serve as an important source for his large-scale canvases and drawings. This drawing stands apart from others, however, in its intimate scale and page-within-a-page design. The lined format gives the drawing the feel of personal writing, perhaps for a letter or journal. In addition to the scribbles, Twombly reworks the gestures, stroking and erasing lines, buckling the paper with the pressure of his marks.