Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an ink print by Chuck Close. It dates from 1986 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
The medium’s inherent graininess contributes to the image’s tactile, non-idealized quality.
Created in 1986, this black-and-white print by Chuck Close is an example of transfer etching, a process that transfers drawn marks from a surface to a metal plate for printing. The work belongs to Close’s broader investigation into portraiture through printmaking, diverging from his earlier photorealist paintings while retaining his focus on the human face. The medium’s inherent graininess contributes to the image’s tactile, non-idealized quality.
Subject & Meaning
The portrait depicts a single individual with curly hair and a restrained expression, rendered without idealization. The presence of a small pendant suggests personal detail, yet the subject’s identity remains unspecified. Close’s choice to emphasize texture over clarity invites contemplation of the subject’s inner state, avoiding narrative or emotional cues in favor of formal presence.
Technique & Style
Transfer etching allowed Close to translate gestural, sketch-like marks into a printed format, preserving the spontaneity of drawing while achieving tonal depth through controlled acid etching. The image’s loose, uneven lines and grainy surface contrast with the precision of his earlier works, revealing a shift toward expressive abstraction within portraiture. The technique’s limitations became part of the aesthetic, emphasizing process over polish.
History & Provenance
This print emerged during a period when Close was increasingly experimenting with printmaking after a spinal artery collapse in 1988 limited his mobility. Though created before the accident, it anticipates his later reliance on indirect methods. The work is part of a series of transfer etchings from the mid-1980s, produced in collaboration with master printers, reflecting his engagement with collaborative studio practices.
Context
In the 1980s, Close was redefining portraiture by merging photographic source material with labor-intensive, non-traditional techniques. His use of transfer etching placed him within a broader movement of artists exploring printmaking as a vehicle for conceptual rigor rather than reproduction. This work aligns with contemporaneous efforts to challenge the boundaries between drawing, photography, and print.
Legacy
Close’s transfer etchings expanded the possibilities of printmaking as a medium for psychological portraiture. By embracing the irregularities of the process, he demonstrated how technical constraints could generate new forms of visual expression. This work remains a significant reference in discussions of post-photorealist practice and the evolution of portraiture in late 20th-century American art.
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.
