Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is a graphite drawing by Chuck Close. It dates from 1973 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1973, this work by Chuck Close combines gelatin silver photographic prints with a range of drawing materials applied to a foamcore support. The composition is organized into four sections that together form a portrait of a man, rendered in monochrome with occasional colored accents from ballpoint pen.
Subject & Meaning
The image presents a close-up of a male sitter, divided so that the upper two panels display the eyes and upper face, while the lower two focus on the nose and mouth area. The figure’s dark hair, moustache, and plaid-collared shirt are rendered with careful attention to facial expression and texture.
Technique & Style
Close employs a layered process, beginning with gelatin silver prints that are adhered with pressure‑sensitive tape. Over these bases he adds airbrushed tones, pen and ink lines, pencil shading, and colored ballpoint details, creating a mix of smooth gradients and tactile surface marks that enhance the photorealistic effect.
History & Provenance
The piece originates from Close’s early 1970s period, when he was exploring large‑scale, photo‑based portraiture using a large‑format camera. It reflects his systematic approach to building detail through successive media, a method that defined much of his output during this decade.
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.
