Sam Francis

Untitled, 1984

106.7 X 73 inch

What is pigment?

What is pigment?

A pigment is a material that changes the color of light by selectively absorbing certain wavelengths and reflecting others. Unlike phosphorescence or fluorescence, where materials emit light, pigments work by altering the light that passes through or is reflected from them. In art, pigments are chosen for their special properties, such as high tinting strength, making them ideal for coloring various materials.

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.

Polaroid

A Polaroid print is an instant photograph produced using a Polaroid camera, which develops the image immediately after exposure. The camera's internal processing allows the photograph to develop and appear within minutes. The term Polaroid is also used more generally to refer to instant photographs and films produced by similar technologies.

Nouveau Realism

Nouveau Réalisme is an artistic movement founded in 1960 by art critic Pierre Restany and painter Yves Klein during a collective exhibition at a gallery in Milan. Restany wrote the original manifesto in April 1960, proclaiming the movement. In October of that year, nine artists, including Martial Raysse, Yves Klein, Daniel Spoerri, Jean Tinguely, Arman, Pierre Restany, and three Ultra-Lettrists—Jacques de la Villeglé, François Dufrêne, and Raymond Hains—signed the declaration. In 1961, the movement expanded to include Mimmo Rotella, Niki de Saint Phalle, Gérard Deschamps, and César. The movement emphasized a return to reality in art, often incorporating everyday objects and exploring the boundaries between art and life.

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