Untitled (SF 348), 1993

Sam Francis was an influential American abstract expressionist painter, renowned for his vibrant use of color and innovative approach to composition. Born in 1923 in San Mateo, California, Francis initially pursued a career in medicine before turning to art after a plane crash left him bedridden for years. His works are often characterized by large expanses of white space punctuated by bold, expressive splashes and drips of color. Deeply influenced by his travels across Europe and Asia, as well as by artists like Claude Monet and Jackson Pollock, Francis developed a unique style that blended Western abstraction with Eastern philosophies of space and light. Throughout his career, he maintained a deep interest in the emotional and psychological impact of color, which is evident in the dynamic energy and fluidity of his compositions.

“Untitled (SF 348),” created in 1993, is a stunning example of Sam Francis’s mastery in lithography, capturing his signature use of vibrant colors and spatial harmony. This lithograph, printed on 112 Waterleaf paper, has a diameter of 23½ inches and is part of an edition of 100, with 24 artist’s proofs also produced. Published by The Litho Shop in Santa Monica, the artwork features the characteristic bursts and pools of color that define Francis’s later works. The circular format of the piece emphasizes the organic flow of his compositions, with colors seeming to radiate and interact across the surface, creating a sense of movement and energy. Signed in pencil and bearing the publisher’s blindstamp, “Untitled (SF 348)” encapsulates Francis’s exploration of the interplay between color, form, and space, making it a quintessential piece within his extensive body of work.