Self-Portrait 1973

Sam Francis made this self-portrait with lithographic ink on paper, a flurry of stark monochrome marks. I like to imagine him in the print studio, coaxing these inky textures into being, a process of push and pull. The image flickers in and out of recognition. I empathize with that dance between control and chance. As a fellow painter, I understand that the material has its own voice. See how the ink pools and bleeds? These aren’t mistakes but opportunities, ways the medium speaks back. That swirling vortex of ink around the eyes suggests a mind in motion. The mouth is stretched and mirthful; a big, toothy grin. The overall impression isn't of a static likeness, but an embodiment of fleeting feeling. There's a kinship, too, with other artists who let the medium lead, like Helen Frankenthaler and her soak-stain paintings. It’s all about that ongoing conversation, how artists learn from, riff off, and challenge one another, carrying painting forward.