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.

Tachisme

Tachisme is a French abstract painting style that gained popularity between 1940 and 1950, often seen as the European counterpart to Abstract Expressionism. However, there are stylistic differences between the two. Tachisme, which emerged from Art Informel, rejected geometric abstraction in favor of more intuitive and spontaneous expression. It was a reaction against the structured forms of Cubism and is closely related to Informalism. Tachisme emphasizes gestural brushwork, irregular forms, and a focus on the process of painting itself.

Situationism

Situationism is a psychological theory that gained prominence in 1968, following the publication of a monograph by Walter Mischel that sparked the Person-situation debate. This theory argues that behavior is primarily influenced by external situational factors rather than internal traits or motivations, challenging the ideas of trait theorists like Raymond B. Cattell and Hans Eysenck, who emphasized stable personality traits. It is important not to confuse this with the Situationist International movement, an artistic and political movement founded by Asger Jorn, which focused on the critique of modern consumer society and the influence of environments on human behavior.

Pastel

Pastel is an art medium in stick form made from powdered pigment and a binder. The pigments used in pastels are the same as those in other colored art media. The color effect of pastels closely resembles that of dry pigments, more so than any other medium. Artworks created with pastels are called pastel paintings, pastel drawings, or simply pastels. The term pastel can also refer to the process of creating art using pastel sticks.

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