Sam Francis
SAM FRANCIS "YEA" PAINTED BOOK, 1989
Sam Francis (1923-1994) is one of the most distinctive and collected 20th century abstract artists.
After serving in the air force in WW II, Francis returned to his native California immersing himself in art making. By the end of the 1940's he was devoted to painting which led him to learn, exhibit and travel internationally.
In 1953 one of his canvases was included in the MoMA's seminal exhibition "Twelve Artists" which quickly led to his international reputation.
Francis is stylistically associated with the second generation of abstract expressionist painters. Although American, he was not tethered to New York City, instead spending the 1950's working/exhibiting in places including Paris, Mexico City, and Switzerland. As a result he is somewhat independent of the collectives and "isms" that are normally used to describe post-war abstraction.
The one consistent element in Francis' biography is his inimitable style; a combination of splatter and vaguely biomorphic forms executed in saturated primary colors where a pure white background is revealed or remains exposed.
In the 1980's, settled in Santa Monica (California). He would open a printmaking studio and also started a publishing wing.
"Yea" is a beautiful hybrid of Francis' interests. The text inside the book is written by acclaimed American poet Cid Corman (1924-2004). Francis hand-painted the front and back using his signature gestural arrangements of vibrant, saturated colors and open / untouched blank spaces. Francis created a limited-edition version of this book of poetry, hand-painting 25 unique examples.
Additional images available on request.
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"Yea" (Text by the poet Cid Corman)
USA, 1989
Bound book, hand-painted exterior
Hand signed and numbered by the artist
From a series of 25
8.6”H 5.12"W
Printer: The Lapis Press, Emeryville, California
Excellent condition
Includes custom-made acrylic standing display case
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