Untitled (SFP94-73, SFF.1747) 1994

Sam Francis made this untitled painting in 1994 using fluid acrylic on canvas. It's a seemingly simple process: paint applied to a surface. But look closer. The way Francis handles the paint is key. He lets it drip, pool, and spatter, giving the colors a life of their own. The fluid acrylics allow for vibrant hues and a sense of spontaneity, but this belies the level of control Francis had in coaxing the paint across the canvas, almost like a dance. This emphasis on process and materials challenges the traditional hierarchy between art and craft, where the artist's hand is often hidden. Here, the very act of painting, the material properties of the acrylics, are front and center, inviting us to consider the labor involved in creating such a dynamic composition.