Untitled (from Papierski Portfolio) (SF 355) 1992

This Untitled print from the Papierski Portfolio was made by Sam Francis, and what strikes me is how immediate it feels. It’s all about the process, right? You can almost feel Francis flicking and dripping the paint. Look at the way these colours collide – blues, reds, yellows, greens – they’re not blending so much as just hanging out together. There’s this gorgeous push and pull between the controlled splatters and the wild, unpredictable drips. See that little red dot, sitting all alone amidst the blue? It’s like a tiny exclamation point. Francis is definitely having a conversation with the Abstract Expressionists. You can see the Pollock in those splatters, but Francis is doing his own thing, making it lighter, brighter, maybe even a little bit more joyful. Anyway, it's an ongoing dialogue, and that’s what makes art so alive.