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Sam Francis, artist
American, 1923 - 1994
Tarflower, 1981
etching
35.5 x 45.6 cm (image); 57.3 x 67.4 cm (sheet)
Gift of Philip N. Kirkeby 1981.1.210

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Artist Credit: display

Artist Biography: Born in San Mateo, California in 1923. Died in Santa Monica 11/4/1994. Born Samuel Lewis Francis. He intended to become a physician, but a training crash while flying for the Army Air Corps, which led to spinal tuberculosis, led to his studying painting during several years of convalescence. In the late 1940's he studied painting with David Park at the San Francisco Art Institute and earned batchelor's and master's degrees in fine arts and art history from Berkeley. In 1950 he moved to Paris becoming part of a circle of young American painters who included Al Held, Shirley Jaffe, Kimber Smith, Norman Bluhm and Joan Mitchell. After the mid-60's he lived primarily in the Los Angeles area.~~By turns, Francis' work can be spontaneous and disciplined, baroque and reductive. He was concerned with physical properties of paint itself, and he gave different attention to each different medium - acrylic, gouache, watercolor, oil or lithograph. His style could be described as spontaneous and lyrical.~~Reference: Lembark, Connie W. The Prints of Sam Francis, A Catalogue RaisonnÈ 1960-1990. (New York: Hudson Hills Press, [1992]). 2 vols.~

Related Keywords
Tarflower Kirkeby N Philip Gift America North States United Print etching Sam Francis American 5144163123350048 A059436 1981.1.210 AFGA