Untitled SFP86-165 — Fine Art

Untitled SFP86-165 by Sam Francis shows a pale field with colour washes spread loosely over it. The paint pools in thin layers and leaves open space around the edges.

The picture belongs to the post war abstract painting practice that favours open colour over tight composition. The fine art frame comes in white, wood, dark wood or black, and the clean edge of the frame sets the picture apart from the wall.

A black frame gives the pale washes a sharp border, so the soft paint does not blend into the paint on the wall. Hang it on the landing wall where the stair light catches the thin paint edges at an angle. You see the open gaps between the washes first, then the small pools of colour lower down.