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Celebrating American art and artists
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Artists Reimagining the Collection
Meet the 50 makers selected from more than 1,600 submissions

Open 10:00–5:00

Visit
Open today 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Admission is always free

6th and Constitution Ave NW
Washington, DC 20565

Sculpture Garden Extended Hours

Open late until 8:00 p.m. on select nights
Through September 5
Exhibitions & Events
America’s 250th

Celebrating American art and artists
Art & Artists
Open Call

Artists Reimagining the Collection
Meet the 50 makers selected from more than 1,600 submissions

Self-Portrait

1982

Sam Francis

Associated Names

Sam Francis

Artist, American, 1923 - 1994

The image consists of bold black lines and irregular shapes within a square on a white background. The arrangement of lines suggests facial features: two rounded shapes for eyes, heavy arching lines for eyebrows, a large uneven shape for a nose, and a sweeping curved line for a mouth. The contrast between the dark forms and the white background accentuates the abstract nature of the artwork.

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Artwork overview

Medium

sugarlift aquatint in black on Fabriano Tiepolo wove paper
Credit Line

Gift of Sam Francis, in Honor of the 50th Anniversary of the National Gallery of Art
Dimensions

plate: 17.5 x 15.9 cm (6 7/8 x 6 1/4 in.)
sheet: 48.4 x 37.7 cm (19 1/16 x 14 13/16 in.)
Accession Number

1991.234.53
Catalogue Raisonné

Lembark 1992, no. I26

Artwork history & notes

Bibliography

1992

Lembark, Connie W. The Prints of Sam Francis: A Catalogue Raisonné, 1960-1990, vol. 1. New York: Hudson Hills Press, 1992, p. 34, no. I26.

Inscriptions

lower left in graphite: AP; lower right in graphite: Sam Francis; lower right verso in graphite by unknown hand: SFE-305 SP-72-VIII

Markings

embossed: 3EP / LTD; embossed: IK [Ikuru Kuwahara]

Wikidata ID

Q75117710

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