Untitled (SF76-175) 1976

Sam Francis made this watercolor, titled "Untitled (SF76-175)", using simple materials to create a world of luminous color. It’s like watching someone think through painting, each layer responding to the last. The way the watercolor bleeds and blooms across the paper lets the colors blend and separate in unpredictable ways. See how the purple pools and drips, with these darker splashes suggesting a sudden gesture, a moment of chance? Look at how the pinks and blues push through, creating these little windows of light within the form. It’s a painting that doesn't try to hide its process. I'm reminded of Helen Frankenthaler, who also let the paint soak into the canvas. But where Frankenthaler’s work feels expansive, Francis creates a more concentrated, almost internal space. There's a sense of art being this ongoing conversation, one that is open for everyone to participate in.