Untitled (SF 357) 

Sam Francis, sometime in the 20th century, made this untitled print with lithography. This process involves applying ink to a prepared stone or metal plate and then transferring it to paper. Francis's lithograph is a vibrant explosion of color and form. The inks pool and spatter, building a rich surface, and allowing for a wide range of painterly gestures, from broad sweeping marks to delicate drips. The process requires the artist to work in close collaboration with a skilled printer, mediating between artistic intention and technical execution. Lithography is a printmaking process with direct ties to the industrial revolution and the growth of mass media. It democratized the dissemination of images, making art more accessible to a wider audience, and offered artists like Francis the opportunity to explore new creative possibilities. By understanding the materials, making, and context of this print, we can appreciate Francis's work not just as an abstract composition but as a testament to the intersection of art, craft, and technology.