Untitled (SFP94-11, sff.1694) 1994

Here we see Sam Francis’s "Untitled," one of many paintings Francis created in the last year of his life in 1994. Francis had returned to painting after a period of illness. Francis, who was deeply influenced by Abstract Expressionism and his time spent in post-war Paris, explores pure abstraction, focusing on color, light, and space. The splashes of red, black, and blue create a dynamic tension on the canvas, set against the white background. In an interview, Francis once said that his paintings were “records of states of feeling.” Considering this idea, one can imagine the emotional intensity present in the studio as he created this piece toward the end of his life. There's a sense of urgency, of life lived fully, expressed through these bold colors and forms. What feelings do you perceive in this painting?