Sam Francis Lithographs

Sam Francis’s lithographs are known for their experimental process, painterly aesthetic, and expressive quality. Sam Francis was as immensely influential as a printmaker as he was a painter, creating large scale, colorful lithographs that share the same spontaneous energy as his other works. To produce his limited edition lithographs, Sam Francis established his own print studio, named The Litho Shop, Inc. He occasionally collaborated with Gemini G.E.L. in Los Angeles and other print studios. To obtain the painterly look that his lithographs are acclaimed for, Francis would apply ink onto the lithographic limestone, often creating brushstrokes, drips, and splatters, just as he would with an oil or watercolor.