Upper Yellow II - Sam Francis

A 1965 lithograph by Sam Francis, featuring a central void surrounded by fluid, primary-coloured forms that explore space and light.

Upper Yellow II, created in 1965, is a lithograph by the American artist Sam Francis. This work displays the characteristic approach Francis took toward printmaking, where he treated the paper surface as a field for spatial experimentation. The composition is defined by a central void, a white space that acts as a container for the surrounding colour forms.

Francis utilised a palette of primary colours, including yellow, blue, and red, to create a sense of movement around the edges of the frame. The forms appear to drip and splatter, suggesting a physical interaction between the artist and the medium. These marks are not random; they are carefully placed to balance the weight of the composition. The lithographic process allowed Francis to explore the transparency of ink, layering colours to create depth without obscuring the white ground of the paper.

During the 1960s, Francis spent significant time in Japan, and his work from this period reflects an interest in the concept of 'ma', or the space between objects. In Upper Yellow II, the negative space is as active as the painted elements. The work avoids a traditional centre, instead pushing the visual interest toward the periphery. This creates an open structure that invites the viewer to look across the entire surface.

As a print, this piece demonstrates the technical precision required to replicate the fluid, spontaneous quality of his paintings. The edges of the colour fields remain soft, retaining the immediacy of a brushstroke. By focusing on the relationship between colour and light, Francis created a visual experience that relies on the interaction of these elements rather than representational imagery. This lithograph remains a clear example of his mid-career style, where he refined his use of colour to define the boundaries of the pictorial plane.