Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an ink print by Chuck Close. It dates from 2009 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Untitled, a 2009 woodcut by Chuck Close, exemplifies the artist's adaptation of his portraiture techniques to printmaking. The work features two adjacent faces rendered in a swirling, abstracted manner.
Subject & Meaning
The subject of Untitled is a pair of faces, though their blurring into vibrant, swirling patterns challenges immediate recognition. This abstraction may reflect Close's exploration of representation and perception.
Technique & Style
Close employed woodcut techniques, carving shapes into wood blocks before printing. The process yielded sharp lines and vibrant colors, juxtaposing clarity of technique with the soft, abstracted facial forms.
History & Provenance
Created in 2009, Untitled is part of a series where Close transitioned his meticulous portraiture approach from painting to woodcut prints. Specific provenance details are not provided.
Context
This work sits within Close's broader exploration of portraiture across mediums. The woodcut's textured, patterned background, with tiny repeating marks, reflects the medium's inherent qualities.
Legacy
Untitled contributes to Close's legacy of medium experimentation in portraiture. However, its specific impact or reception within his oeuvre is not detailed in the provided information.
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.
