Self-Portrait 1982

This Self-Portrait was made by Sam Francis, though we don’t know when. Those quiet, almost shy lines, like whispers on the paper, making up a face. I can imagine Sam Francis leaning over the plate, perhaps in a moment of introspection, wondering about his own identity. The nose is just one curving stroke, the lips, a little surreal. I wonder, did he struggle with the likeness, or did it flow out of him, a quick impression? It’s not overworked or fussy. He's also known for his lithographs. I love the way the simplicity contrasts with the complexity he used in his paintings. It reminds me of other artists, like Matisse, who use line to capture the essence of a form, and you feel that here in Francis's work. It’s like he's saying, "This is me, or at least, a version of me." And isn’t that what art is all about, these shared conversations across time, inspiring each other to create and see the world in new ways? It’s like a little secret shared between artists, passed down through the ages.