Untitled 1964

This untitled painting was made by Sam Francis, though we don’t know exactly when. It’s a dance of color: bold blues, vibrant oranges, and deep greens punctuated with splatters of paint across a white canvas. I can imagine Francis in his studio, brush in hand, letting the colors flow almost intuitively. There's a real sense of spontaneity, a freedom in the way the paint is applied, with thin layers in some areas, and thicker, more textured strokes elsewhere. I’m thinking about the physical act of painting, the way Francis must have moved around the canvas. Look at the bold gesture of the green on the left! It feels powerful and direct. It reminds me of other abstract painters who were exploring the emotional and expressive possibilities of color and form, like Helen Frankenthaler. Painting is an ongoing conversation across generations, with artists constantly building upon and responding to the ideas of those who came before. This piece embraces ambiguity, inviting us to bring our own experiences and interpretations.