Self-Portrait 1973

Curator: Up next, we have Sam Francis’s “Self-Portrait,” created in 1973. It's a graphic work, ink on paper. Editor: My goodness, that gaze is intense! Very direct. Makes you wonder what Francis was thinking when he made it. Curator: The raw quality of the ink lends itself to Expressionism. Notice the medium--the choice of graphic arts for self-representation. What statements do you think this medium choice allows him to express about his perception and the representation of his Self? Editor: It does feel like he is using the ink in such a way that’s very… immediate. A rush of thoughts, splashed on the page. It feels unedited and unrefined but very thought out and very… “him”, raw but pure. It almost feels like you’re witnessing a private moment, and the portrait being somewhat monochrome and rough, further accentuates this voyeuristic moment between the art and the observer. Curator: There's also an element of consumption involved with art like this—the artist choosing these accessible mediums. Francis was an established figure by '73; consider his choice to employ ink, something so simple, so readily available to the public. What is the process by which the artist's personality informs that? How does Francis, in particular, connect this idea to accessibility and the artistic practice for a wider audience? Editor: I feel that's very telling in that he uses these means to express very heavy ideas through an artistic and free flowing manner! To think something like that could come out of those… seemingly restrictive practices and mediums feels very powerful. It makes it feel that, well, art doesn’t necessarily require complex or heavy investment—sometimes the purest, rawest and simplest forms are the most artistic! Curator: True. So, through accessible and basic materials such as ink and graphic art, a portrait becomes a narrative of both artistic approach and the artist's position in their era. Any final thoughts? Editor: It just hits hard—a vulnerable moment captured and presented. Really leaves a lasting impression.