Coral Lyre Nine - Sam Francis

A 1973 lithograph by Sam Francis, featuring gestural colour clusters and an expansive central void.

Coral Lyre Nine is a lithograph by the American artist Sam Francis, produced in 1973. Francis is known for his engagement with the physical properties of paint and the spatial dynamics of the canvas. This work demonstrates his interest in the relationship between colour, light, and the void. The composition is structured around a central, open space, which is framed by clusters of gestural marks and splatters. These peripheral forms suggest a sense of expansion, drawing the eye outward from the centre toward the edges of the paper.

The print features a palette of saturated tones, including deep reds, blues, and greens, which contrast against the stark white ground. Francis often utilised the white of the paper as an active element, rather than a passive background. In this piece, the white space functions as a source of light, interacting with the surrounding colour fields. The application of ink varies from dense, layered patches to fine, scattered droplets, creating a sense of movement and energy. This technique reflects the artist's background in Abstract Expressionism and his later explorations into printmaking, where he experimented with the possibilities of lithographic stone and plate.

Sam Francis spent significant periods of his career in Paris, Tokyo, and California, and his work often synthesises these diverse influences. His approach to abstraction is characterised by a balance between spontaneity and deliberate arrangement. Coral Lyre Nine captures this tension, as the seemingly random splatters are contained within a loose, rectangular structure. The work invites the viewer to observe the interplay of form and emptiness, a recurring theme in the artist's body of work. As a fine art print, it offers a clear view into the technical precision and aesthetic concerns that defined his practice during the 1970s.