- 142
Sam Francis
Description
- Sam Francis
- First Day
- signed and incompletely dated 198 on the reverse; dedicated For Susan on the stretcher
- acrylic on canvas
- 48 by 60 in. 121.92 by 152.4 cm.
- Executed in 1989.
Provenance
Acquired by the present owner from the above in 2013
Exhibited
Literature
Condition
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.
Catalogue Note
Francis’s invasions of color evoke his art historical predecessors like Henri Matisse, whom Francis adopted as his stylistic mentor during the 1950s in Paris. Brought up near San Francisco, Francis took up painting as a form of therapy during the four years he spent half-immobilized in hospital beds from 1943-1947, recovering from severe spinal problems and subsequent tuberculosis that resulted from an emergency landing made during his pilot training for World War II. Aside from Matisse, Francis’s powerfully expressive brushstrokes in numerous splashes and drips are also reminiscent of Jackson Pollock. In contrast to Pollock's visceral, almost violent approach, Francis's treatment seems to be calmer and gentler, inviting a meditative response. Perhaps because of his deep roots in the Fauvist tradition, Francis’s use of color is imbued with meaning and power, as opposed to use purely for its own sake.