Sam Francis – Island Plate, 1973 – Etching and Aquatint

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Original etching and aquatint. Hand-signed and numbered.

This striking etching and aquatint by Sam Francis presents a luminous white organic form floating against a deep grey-brown ground, with dramatic black splatters and gestural marks radiating from a dense central mass. The work exemplifies Francis's characteristic dialogue between open white space and explosive gestural energy — his hallmark contribution to lyrical Abstract Expressionism. Printed with exceptional tonal range, the aquatint passages create atmospheric depth while the etched lines add calligraphic precision. A powerful and rare intaglio work from the California master's mature period.

Sam Francis (USA, 1923–1994) was an influential abstract painter known for his vibrant, color-drenched canvases. Associated with Abstract Expressionism and Lyrical Abstraction, his work often featured dynamic splashes and drips, exploring light, space, and movement with a global artistic perspective.

Sam Francis

Island Plate, 1973

Form

Limited Edition Print

Limited Edition PrintA limited edition print is one of a number of prints made at the same time from one printmaking plate. A fixed number are made and signed by the artist, indicating the printing order, using the format 1/10, meaning first of ten prints.

Medium

Etching and Aquatint

Etching and AquatintEtching and aquatint are printmaking techniques. In aquatint, the printing plate is etched with a pattern of tiny pits and cracks to create a wide range of tonal gradations. This technique allows artists to replicate the broad, flat tones found in watercolor paintings and ink washes.

Edition

Edition of 36

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Original etching and aquatint. Hand-signed and numbered.

Sam Francis

Untitled (SF-329), 1988

Limited Edition Print

Lithograph

USD 8,400

Sam Francis

Untitled (SF-272), 1984

Limited Edition Print

Lithograph

USD 3,850

Sam Francis

Untitled (SF78-1010), 1978

Drawing / Watercolor

Acrylic on paper

EUR 21,200

Sam Francis

Untitled (SF82-263), 1982

Painting

Acrylic on paper

Inquire For Price

Sam Francis

Vert Francaise, 1963

Painting

Acrylic on paper

Inquire For Price

Sam Francis

Island Plate, 1973

Limited Edition Print

Etching and Aquatint

Inquire For Price

Sam Francis

Untitled (SFE-071), 1989

Limited Edition Print

Mixed Media

USD 10,500

Sam Francis

Untitled (SFE-013), 1984

Limited Edition Print

Aquatint

USD 7,400

Sam Francis

Untitled Red (American Foundation), 1992

Limited Edition Print

Etching

USD 11,600

Sam Francis

And Pink (SF-143), 1973

Limited Edition Print

Lithograph

USD 11,600

Sam Francis

Another Footprint, 1971

Limited Edition Print

Lithograph

USD 11,600

Sam Francis

Untitled (from the Fresh Air School portfolio), 1972

Limited Edition Print

Lithograph

EUR 1,850

Sam Francis

Mehrfarbige Spirale, 1970

Limited Edition Print

Etching and Aquatint

USD 5,250

Sam Francis

Untitled (SFE-021), 1984

Limited Edition Print

Aquatint

USD 5,250

Sam Francis

Untitled (from Portfolio 9), 1967

Limited Edition Print

Lithograph

USD 6,000

Sam Francis

Untitled, 1988

Painting

Acrylic on canvas

Inquire For Price

Sam Francis

Untitled (SF-358), 1993

Limited Edition Print

Lithograph

EUR 8,000

Sam Francis

Private Listing

Drawing / Watercolor

request info

Sam Francis

Spring Solution, 1972

Limited Edition Print

Lithograph

Inquire For Price

Sam Francis

Self Portrait (SF-051), 1976

Limited Edition Print

Lithograph

Inquire For Price

Sam Francis

Untitled (SF-345), 1991

Limited Edition Print

Lithograph

USD 20,000 – 25,000

Sam Francis

Private Listing

Drawing / Watercolor

request info

Sam Francis

Untitled (SFE-029), 1983

Limited Edition Print

Aquatint

USD 14,400

Sam Francis

Untitled (SFE-014), 1984

Limited Edition Print

Aquatint

USD 12,900

Sam Francis

Untitled (SFE-072), 1989

Limited Edition Print

Mixed Media

USD 9,600

Sam Francis

Dark Cup (SF-141), 1973

Limited Edition Print

Lithograph

USD 6,700

Sam Francis

Untitled (SF-356), 1992

Limited Edition Print

Lithograph

USD 14,400

Sam Francis

Untitled (SFE-073RC), 1973

Limited Edition Print

Etching and Aquatint

USD 7,800

Sam Francis

In, On and Of paper, #1, 1977

Drawing / Watercolor

Mixed Media

USD 32,000 – 36,000

Sam Francis

Web (SFS-136), 1972

Limited Edition Print

Screen-print

USD 23,000

Sam Francis

Untitled (SF-315), 1986

Limited Edition Print

Lithograph

USD 8,500

Sam Francis

Untitled from the Papierski Portfolio, 1992

Limited Edition Print

Lithograph

EUR 6,000

Sam Francis

Metal Line, 1971

Limited Edition Print

Lithograph

USD 8,500

Sam Francis

SFE 079, 1992

Limited Edition Print

Etching

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Sam Francis was an American painter whose breakthrough into America came with his participation in the exhibition of, Twelve Americans in the New York Museum of Modern Art in 1956. During this time of Sam's life his style changed from monochrome compositions to colorful. Sam Francis was initially influenced by the abstract expressionists and later became associated with second generation abstract expressionists. Sam Francis spent the 1950's in Paris and it was there his first exhibition was held at the Galerie Nina Dausset. His art while there was influenced by his exposure to French modern painting, Asian culture and Zen Buddhism. During the 50's, Sam's art would evolve through a series of stages from monochromatic abstractions to richly colored murals. Sam Francis's calligraphic characteristic of applying color with lyrical properties of liquid paint are referred to as, Asian art. He traveled the world with these pieces visiting: Japan, Thailand and India showing the painting at exhibitions in Tokyo and Osaka. He then went on to develop a personal style of spontaneous and gestic drippings. Sam created his art by applying acrylic, oil and watercolors to the image by using revolving and splashing motions. Sam Francis then changed his technique again in the 1970's by covering his surfaces with a net-like structure, and again when he began to use lithography, etching and monotype. He created some expressive compositions while experimenting in the 1980's by partially running colors. With this style Sam received some large commissions for mural work. (Artist website)

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What is abstract art?

Abstract art uses form, shape, line, and color to create a visual experience without attempting to represent external reality. The composition exists independently of the world's visual references, focusing on expressing ideas and emotions through non-representational means.

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Sam Francis

Island Plate, 1973

99 x 118 cm

Sam Francis

Island Plate, 1973

Form

Medium

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Edition

Price

Artworks

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Biography

Bio

Untitled (SF-329), 1988

Untitled (SF-272), 1984

Untitled (SF78-1010), 1978

Untitled (SF82-263), 1982

Vert Francaise, 1963

Island Plate, 1973

Untitled (SFE-071), 1989

Untitled (SFE-013), 1984

Untitled Red (American Foundation), 1992

And Pink (SF-143), 1973

Another Footprint, 1971

Untitled (from the Fresh Air School portfolio), 1972

Mehrfarbige Spirale, 1970

Untitled (SFE-021), 1984

Untitled (from Portfolio 9), 1967

Untitled, 1988

Untitled (SF-358), 1993

Private Listing

Spring Solution, 1972

Self Portrait (SF-051), 1976

Untitled (SF-345), 1991

Private Listing

Untitled (SFE-029), 1983

Untitled (SFE-014), 1984

Untitled (SFE-072), 1989

Dark Cup (SF-141), 1973

Untitled (SF-356), 1992

Untitled (SFE-073RC), 1973

In, On and Of paper, #1, 1977

Web (SFS-136), 1972

Untitled (SF-315), 1986

Untitled from the Papierski Portfolio, 1992

Metal Line, 1971

SFE 079, 1992

Beauty Walk, 1960

Lover Loved (...), 1960

Red Again (S(...), 1972

Salmon, 1973

Happy Death (...), 1960

SFS-332, 1988

Bright Jade (...), 1963

For the Blue(...), 1990

Blue Cut Sai(...), 1969

For thirteen, 1989

Veiled Sail, 1969

The upper Re(...), 1963

Papierski, 1973-84

SF343

Vegetable I (...), 1971

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