Sam Francis

Untitled, 1984

106.7 X 73 inch

What does recto/verso mean?

What does recto/verso mean?

Recto and verso are terms used to describe the right and left pages of an open book, or the front and back of a sheet of paper. In both cases, recto refers to the right-hand page or the front of the paper, while verso refers to the left-hand page or the back of the paper. These terms are commonly used in bookbinding, printmaking, and art to distinguish between the two sides of a sheet.

Carborundum

Carborundum is the trademark name for silicon carbide crystals, an abrasive material commonly used in sandpaper, cutting tools, and grinding wheels. Originally, artists used carborundum for grinding lithography stones. In collagraph printmaking, it is applied to plates to create texture and tone gradients, adding depth and contrast to the prints.

Figuration Libre

Figuration Libre is an art movement that is equivalent to the French Bad Painting and Neo-Expressionism in Europe and America. The term was coined by Ben Vautier and the Fluxus movement. In 1981, Robert Combas, François Boisrond, Hervé Di Rosa, and Rémi Blanchard formed the Figuration Libre group. The term can be interpreted as free style art, emphasizing spontaneity, freedom, and a rejection of traditional artistic conventions.

Site Specific Art

Site-Specific Art is a form of artwork created to exist in a particular location, with the artist considering the site as an integral part of the creative process. Robert Irwin was a key figure in promoting this art form in California. Site-Specific Art emerged as a reaction against modernist objects, which were often portable, commodified, and confined to museum spaces. In contrast, Site-Specific Art is inherently tied to its location, challenging the traditional notions of art as a transportable and marketable commodity.

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