Sam Francis

Untitled, 1984

106.7 X 73 inch

What is mezzotint?

What is mezzotint?

Mezzotint is a printmaking technique in which a copper or steel plate is roughened to produce a solid black print. The artist smooths specific areas of the plate to create a range of tones, from deep blacks to delicate grays and whites. By varying the degree of smoothing, the artist can achieve detailed gradations of light and shadow, resulting in prints with rich, velvety textures and subtle transitions between light and dark.

Animation

Animation is the process of displaying a sequence of static images in rapid succession to create the illusion of movement. Each image, or frame, is slightly altered from the previous one, particularly in the moving parts, so when shown together, they form a continuous motion. Traditionally, illustrators drew each frame by hand to produce this effect.

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.

Cynical Realism

Cynical Realism is a term first used in 1992 by art critic Li Xianting to describe a group of Beijing artists who created satirical social realist paintings. The group aimed to depict the psychological turmoil experienced in China as the country grappled with new political ideologies.

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