Sam Francis Untitled, c. 1979 is as beautiful as it is unique. Francis is a prominent California Abstract Expressionist artist who would continue the development of an already iconic style of art. For Francis, his artworks were reflection of his personal interests in Zen Buddhism and Jungian analysis. To him, each artwork was a meditation of his personal life, each color, a bright expression of his inner joys and turmoil. Each work produced is extremely gestural and maintains the unique quality of the artist’s hand. Francis became so enamored with printmaking he eventually opened his own print shop. He would continue experimenting with color and pattern until the end of his life.

In this image, strips of color are layered on top of a woodgrain pattern in light blue. The dominating colors of this composition are red, yellow and dark blue. A beautiful strip of white is brushed thickly onto the artwork as well. Surrounding these strips of color are loosely painted lines which resemble the appearance of a drip painting. This is intentional as Francis was inspired by past generations of abstract expressionists such as Jackson Pollock. The colors blend beautifully, the subtle contrast enabling each color to create a balanced composition. More remarkable are the textures in this monotype. Besides the wood-cut pattern in the background, the red coloring produces a brushed-on ombré effect. Moreover, throughout the work are larger paint splatters, making the artist’s hand very prominent in this image.

Created c. 1979, this unique original color monotype with oil paint and ink on handmade paper is hand- by Sam Francis (San Mateo, 1923- Santa Monica, 1994) in pencil in the lower right.

Catalogue Raisonné & COA:

1. A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany this artwork.

About the Framing:

Sam Francis Untitled, c. 1979 is framed to museum-grade, conservation standards Sam Francis Untitled is presented in a complementary moulding and finished with silk-wrapped mats and optical-grade Plexiglas.