Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an ink print by Chuck Close. It dates from 1993 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
This 1993 print, titled 'Untitled', is a woodcut combined with pochoir, a technique that involves applying color by hand through stencils. It is part of a series of works by Chuck Close that explore portraiture through large-scale, detailed prints.
Subject & Meaning
The print features a portrait of a bearded man, rendered in a mosaic-like pattern of small, multicolored dots that blend to form a larger image. The subject's face is set against a dark, muted background, creating a contemplative atmosphere.
Technique & Style
Close employed traditional printmaking processes, including woodcut and pochoir, to achieve a highly detailed, grid-based composition. The use of small dots creates a sense of depth and texture, while the muted colors add subtlety and nuance to the work.
History & Provenance
Created in 1993, 'Untitled' is part of Close's body of work following a 1988 spinal injury that led to paralysis, after which he adapted his artistic practice to continue producing large-scale, detailed portraits.
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.
