Self-Portrait 1982

Sam Francis made this self-portrait with ink on paper, with a clear love for the process. It’s a dance of line, a sketch that feels both immediate and deeply considered. What strikes me is the starkness. The drawing itself is minimal, just a few lines defining a face, floating on this vast white field. The texture of the paper adds a subtle graininess, a physical presence that contrasts with the ephemeral quality of the ink. Look at the line that forms the nose – it’s not just a line, it’s a gesture, a quick flick of the wrist that captures the essence of a nose without getting bogged down in detail. It’s confident, almost arrogant, like Francis is saying, "This is all you need to see." Francis reminds me of Cy Twombly, in that they both use gesture to hint at something deeper, something beyond representation. They invite you to complete the picture, to bring your own experiences and interpretations to the work. It's a reminder that art is never finished, it's always in dialogue, always changing with the viewer.