Cy Twombly's Untitled (Bassano in Teverina) from 1985 forms part of a series known as the 'green paintings', characterized by their identically sized and elaborately shaped wooden panels. This series marks a period in the mid to late '80s where Twombly's focus on natural themes, particularly the transient effects of light and landscape, became a dominant force in his work. Inspired by his time in Bassano in Teverina, a rural area north of Rome where he bought and restored a dilapidated house into his country house and studio, the series reflects the profound influence of the surrounding woodland forests and natural landscape on his artistic output​ (Cabana Magazine)​.

The 'green paintings', including Untitled (Bassano in Teverina), strive to capture the ephemeral nature of light as it dissolves into shadow, embodying the serene yet ever-changing essence of the woods and hills outside Twombly's studio. This engagement with natural light and landscape is a testament to Twombly's deep connection to the bucolic and rustic environment of Bassano, an atmosphere imbued with the pastoral tradition of poets like Virgil and Theocritus, which resonated deeply with Twombly's agrarian roots and his artistic sensibility​ (Cabana Magazine)​.

Twombly's work from this period, including the Quattro Stagioni series, also initiated in Bassano, explores the cyclical nature of time, the changing seasons, and their reflections on nature and light. The contrast between the bright, sun-bleached canvases representing summer and the more somber, shaded representations of autumn underscores the diverse influences of Twombly's surroundings on his art, from the Mediterranean vibrancy of Gaeta to the secluded woodland serenity of Bassano​ (Cabana Magazine)​.

Untitled (Bassano in Teverina), therefore, is not just a visual exploration but an intimate dialogue with nature and time, encapsulating Twombly's nuanced and profound engagement with the landscapes that surrounded him, reflecting a broader thematic preoccupation with the transient and eternal aspects of the natural world.