Self-Portrait 1973

Curator: Sam Francis's "Self-Portrait," created in 1973. The piece employs graphite in a print, presenting a modern and abstract portrayal of the artist. What's your initial reaction? Editor: Striking, unsettling even. The stark lines and intensely dark eyes give the portrait a haunted quality, like a ghostly presence emerging from the paper. Curator: Indeed, the linear quality gives an interesting impression to this self-portrait. The use of graphite allows Francis to achieve a stark contrast between the white paper and the bold lines of the face. Looking at his practice and background as a printmaker, it is evident how crucial materials are to delivering the intended vision in this drawing. Editor: From a formal perspective, it's the composition that captivates. The way he distorts and abstracts his own features creates a compelling tension. Those eyes, particularly—they become focal points, pulling you into the psyche of the artist. It almost verges on the surreal, deconstructing the conventional portrait. Curator: Considering Francis's involvement in modern art movements, the abstraction feels quite fitting. I think this portrait gives us a new perspective to how we analyze themes and materiality of a 'self-portrait' for our understanding, something more than what's usually being delivered through portraiture during that time. It questions the labour of art through a minimalist lense. Editor: I agree, seeing the finished form allows us to reflect how its linear nature allows it to fit with Francis’ history, adding to his story through portraiture’s form and presence. Curator: Exactly. A truly fascinating example of self-representation. Editor: An intense visual statement indeed.