Throughout his oeuvre, Sam Francis established a unique pictorial language. Color and space enter a dynamic dialog, and his compositions lean toward a lyrical form of Abstract Expressionism. Apart from the momentary, psychological impulse of Action Painting, the poetical aspect of the color composition and modulation is particularly important to Francis. His virtuoso handling of color reveals itself, especially in his later works, of which the painting offered here is a fine example. Francis regards color as an energetic force that unfolds in the pictorial space. The bright colors appear like free-floating islands on a white background interspersed with transparent color bands. The paper is not a blank space but an active element that allows the colors to breathe and boost their intensity. The artist creates a thrilling balance between dense colors and open space. [EH]