Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is a print by Chuck Close. It dates from 1976 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1976, this work belongs to a set of thirteen rubber‑stamp prints assembled by Chuck Close. Though the piece is untitled, it presents a portrait rendered through a systematic arrangement of small rectangular units, each shaded in varying tones of gray. The composition invites close inspection, revealing a disciplined yet intimate representation of a seated male figure.
Subject & Meaning
The image depicts a man's face constructed from a lattice of blocks, each contributing to the overall likeness. The uniform grid imposes a sense of order, while the subtle shifts in gray suggest depth and the fleeting qualities of thought. The work conveys a quiet, introspective mood, emphasizing the contemplative state of the sitter rather than narrative detail.
Technique & Style
The method reflects his meticulous approach, translating photographic observation into a tactile, modular surface that balances abstraction and representation.
Close employed a rubber‑stamp medium, an unconventional choice that aligns with his broader interest in printmaking. By arranging a series of stamped rectangles in a precise grid, he achieved a photorealistic effect through cumulative tonal variation. The method reflects his meticulous approach, translating photographic observation into a tactile, modular surface that balances abstraction and representation.
History & Provenance
The print forms part of a limited portfolio issued by Close in the mid‑1970s, a period when he was expanding his practice beyond large canvases. The series was produced in a limited run, each stamp printed individually and assembled to create the final image. The work has remained within private collections and has been documented in exhibition catalogues focusing on Close's experimental print ventures.
Artist & collection
Artist
Charles Thomas Close (July 5, 1940 – August 19, 2021) was an American painter, visual artist, and photographer who made massive-scale photorealist and abstract portraits of himself and others.
