SAM FRANCIS (San Mateo 1923–1994 Santa Monica) Untitled. Gouache on paper. With the stamped signature and the estate stamp on the reverse: Sam Francis, "The Sam Francis Estate", as well as with the archives number: SF85-492, S2-17w. 73 × 47.5 cm. Provenance: - Christies Tel Aviv, Auction 20 April 2006, lot 122. - Purchased from the above by the present owner, since then private collection Northern Germany. "Painting is about the beauty of space and the power of containment." Sam Francis In the work by Sam Francis offered here, the broad, impulsive brushstroke of Tachism as a central pictorial element is superbly combined with the dynamic-gestural dripping of Action Painting. The American Abstract Expressionism of Clyfford Still was just as influential as the Tachisme of Jean-Paul Riopelle during his stay in Paris. In a monochrome blue, he achieves a harmonious balance between the strong application of paint and the translucent ground, between containment (of the form) and free development, between flowing colour rivulets and confident, dominant brushstrokes. It is in this dynamic tension that Sam Francis established himself as one of the most important exponents of Action Painting and French Tachism, and through the lyricism of the flowing colour of Asian art, developed a very individual, pioneering style of painting. It is precisely the relationship between form and emptiness that is a recurring painterly theme in his works. He thus followed the non-figurative currents of the post-war period — traumatised by war events and propaganda — to liberate colour and form from narrative. He created his works by placing the picture supports on the floor and applying the paint from all sides, always working beyond the edge of the sheet or a pre-determined section of the picture. The art is thus a direct expression of his emotions and the unconscious, at once personal and universal, a document of his artistic creativity. Sam Francis gained recognition early on with the purchase of his painting "Black and Red" in 1955 by the Museum of Modern Art in New York, followed by his participation in the 5th Sao Paulo Biennale and documenta II in Kassel in 1959. In 1992 he was commissioned to create a large mural for the German Bundestag in Bonn. SAM FRANCIS (San Mateo 1923–1994 Santa Monica) Untitled. Gouache auf Papier. Verso mit der Stempelsignatur sowie dem Estate Stempel: Sam Francis, "The Sam Francis Estate", sowie mit der Archivnummer: SF85-492, S2-17w. 73 × 47,5 cm. Provenienz: - Christies Tel Aviv, Auktion 20. April 2006, Los 122. - Bei obiger Auktion vom heutigen Besitzer erworben, seitdem Privatsammlung Norddeutschland. "Painting is about the beauty of space and the power of containment." Sam Francis In dem hier angebotenen Werk verbindet Sam Francis in exzellenter Weise den breiten, impulsiven Pinselstrich des Tachismus als zentrales Bildelement mit dem dynamisch-gestischen Dripping des Action Paintings. Der Abstract Expressionism eines Clyfford Still war dabei ebenso pr?gend wie**Einflüsse des Tachismus eines Jean-Paul Riopelle w?hrend seines Paris Aufenthaltes. Ganz im monochromen Blau gehalten, gelingt ihm eine harmonische Balance zwischen kr?ftigem Farbauftrag und durchscheinendem Bildgrund, zwischen Eingrenzung (der Form) und freier Entfaltung, zwischen ineinanderfliessenden Farbrinnsalen und selbstbewusst gesetzten, dominanten Pinselstrichen. Sam Francis etabliert sich in diesem Spannungsfeld als einer der bedeutendsten Vertreter des Action Paintings und des franz?sischen Tachismus, dessen Werk durch den lyrischen Charakter der flüssigen Farbe der asiatischen Kunst einen ganz individuellen, wegweisenden Malstil entwickelt hat. Gerade das Verh?ltnis von Form und Leere wird in seinen Arbeiten immer wieder malerisch thematisiert. Er folgt somit den nicht figurativen Str?mungen der Nachkriegszeit - traumatisiert von Kriegsgeschehen und Propaganda -, Farbe und Form vom Narrativ zu befreien. Er kreiert seine Werke, indem er**Bildtr?ger auf den Boden legt und**Farben von allen Seiten aus aufbringt, wobei er stets über den Blattrand oder einen vorher festgelegten Bildausschnitt hinausgehend arbeitet.**Kunst ist somit direkter Ausdruck seiner Emotionen und des Unbewussten, zugleich pers?nlich und universell, ein Dokument seines künstlerischen Schaffens. Schon früh erf?hrt Sam Francis Anerkennung durch den Ankauf seines Gem?ldes ?Schwarz und Rot“ durch das Museum of Modern Art in New York 1955, gefolgt von der Teilnahme an der 5. Biennale von Sao Paulo 1959 und der Documenta II in Kassel. 1992 erh?lt er den Auftrag, für den Deutschen Bundestag in Bonn ein grosses Wandbild zu realisieren. notes:*
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