Lithograph in colors
Approximate edition of 6000; unsigned.
Printed by Maeght, Paris.
Published by Museum of Art, Carnegie Institute, Pittsburgh.
A democratic masterpiece from Sam Francis's celebrated Fresh Air School portfolio of 1972. This lithograph in colours is a vivid explosion of chromatic energy — saturated splashes of red, yellow, blue, and green radiating outward in the artist's characteristic open-field composition. Produced in a generous edition that made Francis's luminous California-school abstraction accessible to a wide audience, it remains one of the most recognisable images in post-war American printmaking.
Sam Francis (USA, 1923–1994) was an influential abstract painter known for his vibrant, color-drenched canvases. Associated with Abstract Expressionism and Lyrical Abstraction, his work often featured dynamic splashes and drips, exploring light, space, and movement with a global artistic perspective.
Lithograph Lithography is a printing method based on the principle that water and oil do not mix. It can be used to print artwork or text onto paper or other suitable materials. Traditionally, an image was drawn with wax, fat, or oil onto a lithographic limestone surface or plate. Today, metal plates and other surfaces are also used in lithographic printing.
Lithograph in colors
Approximate edition of 6000; unsigned.
Printed by Maeght, Paris.
Published by Museum of Art, Carnegie Institute, Pittsburgh.
A democratic masterpiece from Sam Francis's celebrated Fresh Air School portfolio of 1972. This lithograph in colours is a vivid explosion of chromatic energy — saturated splashes of red, yellow, blue, and green radiating outward in the artist's characteristic open-field composition. Produced in a generous edition that made Francis's luminous California-school abstraction accessible to a wide audience, it remains one of the most recognisable images in post-war American printmaking.
Sam Francis (USA, 1923–1994) was an influential abstract painter known for his vibrant, color-drenched canvases. Associated with Abstract Expressionism and Lyrical Abstraction, his work often featured dynamic splashes and drips, exploring light, space, and movement with a global artistic perspective.
Sam Francis was an American painter whose breakthrough into America came with his participation in the exhibition of, Twelve Americans in the New York Museum of Modern Art in 1956. During this time of Sam's life his style changed from monochrome compositions to colorful. Sam Francis was initially influenced by the abstract expressionists and later became associated with second generation abstract expressionists. Sam Francis spent the 1950's in Paris and it was there his first exhibition was held at the Galerie Nina Dausset. His art while there was influenced by his exposure to French modern painting, Asian culture and Zen Buddhism. During the 50's, Sam's art would evolve through a series of stages from monochromatic abstractions to richly colored murals. Sam Francis's calligraphic characteristic of applying color with lyrical properties of liquid paint are referred to as, Asian art. He traveled the world with these pieces visiting: Japan, Thailand and India showing the painting at exhibitions in Tokyo and Osaka. He then went on to develop a personal style of spontaneous and gestic drippings. Sam created his art by applying acrylic, oil and watercolors to the image by using revolving and splashing motions. Sam Francis then changed his technique again in the 1970's by covering his surfaces with a net-like structure, and again when he began to use lithography, etching and monotype. He created some expressive compositions while experimenting in the 1980's by partially running colors. With this style Sam received some large commissions for mural work. (Artist website)
Abstract art uses form, shape, line, and color to create a visual experience without attempting to represent external reality. The composition exists independently of the world's visual references, focusing on expressing ideas and emotions through non-representational means.