Dark Egg (Lembark L22) 1963

Sam Francis’s ‘Dark Egg’, is created with lithographic ink on paper. It has a gestural quality that echoes the Abstract Expressionist movement. Francis seems to let the ink drip and pool on the paper, embracing an element of chance, yet he maintains control over the overall composition, as the two main shapes are balanced and contained. The choice of lithography—a printmaking technique—suggests that the artwork is more than just an image but an object made in multiple. Printmaking is rooted in industry, and Francis takes advantage of its capacity for duplication, and challenges distinctions between high art and craft. By emphasizing materiality and making, we gain a deeper understanding of its social and cultural significance.