Untitled 1988

This untitled painting was made by Sam Francis at an unknown date with unknown materials. It's a beautiful demonstration of art-making as a process. The way the colours interact with each other is so intuitive. There’s this vibrant green arc, but it's not contained, it’s letting the other colours breathe. Look at the way the black paint is applied, splattered and dripped, like he’s conducting an orchestra of chaos. You can almost feel Francis’s energy in each brushstroke. The texture is palpable; you can practically see the layering of the paint, thin in some areas, thicker in others. The way he lets the white space peek through adds another layer of complexity. It reminds me of Joan Mitchell, another artist who wasn't afraid to let loose with colour and form. Like Mitchell, Francis shows us that painting isn't about perfection, it's about embracing the mess, the chaos, the sheer joy of creation. It's about creating something that resonates with the viewer on a visceral level.