With its dynamic splashes and gestural strokes, The Five Continents in Summertime typifies the expressive application of bold color for which Sam Francis is best known. The artist’s hand is evident in the multi-hued colors that dance and weave across the sheet. Thick swaths of greens, reds and blues anchor the composition, while splashes of yellow, orange, and purple add texture and dimension.

The Five Continents in Summertime is considered to be the largest aquatint the artist had created and comes from the very small edition of only 20 examples.