Untitled (SFP94-107, SFF.1751) 1994

This is an untitled painting by Sam Francis, one of the foremost abstract expressionist painters. Working in the latter half of the 20th century, Francis was part of a generation reckoning with the trauma of World War II and the burgeoning Civil Rights movement. Francis’s large-scale abstract works are characterized by vibrant colors and dynamic compositions. He uses color to evoke emotion, channeling a sense of spontaneity and the sublime. He once said that his paintings "are about the moment when all the possibilities come into being." The splattered paint and open spaces are often interpreted as reflecting the fragmentation of modern life, yet they also express hope in the potential for renewal and change. This work invites us to consider the relationship between personal experience and the broader historical forces shaping our world. It embodies a sense of freedom and possibility in the face of uncertainty.