Untitled 1975

Sam Francis made this untitled print using lithography on paper. Francis worked internationally, particularly in Paris, New York, California, and Japan, and was associated with the second generation of Abstract Expressionism. He developed a distinctive approach which involved splattering and dripping paint onto the canvas, creating open compositions with pools of color. The face in this print is created with this same technique, in diluted black ink. It reflects the increasing interest in existentialism, which dominated both sides of the Atlantic in the post-war years. Understanding an artwork such as this involves looking at the artist's background, reading period publications and exhibition reviews, and delving into the cultural milieu that nurtured its creation. When we view art as contingent upon its time, we recognize its role in challenging or reinforcing established social norms.