Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is a drawing by Chuck Close. It dates from 1982 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1982, this untitled work by Chuck Close consists of paper pulp adhered to canvas, forming a portrait that functions as both a drawing and a collage. The piece belongs to the collection of the Museum of Modern Art and exemplifies Close’s practice of translating photographic sources into tactile, large‑scale images.
Subject & Meaning
The composition presents a human face rendered in a palette of gray and white. The features—sunken dark eyes, a straight nose, and loosely coiled hair—emerge from the assembled paper fragments, inviting viewers to consider the interplay between materiality and representation.
Technique & Style
Close employed a mixture of paper pulp and adhesive, applying it in small, crumpled pieces directly onto the canvas without traditional brushwork. The resulting surface is rough and uneven, emphasizing texture over polish and aligning the work with his broader exploration of photorealism through unconventional media.
History & Provenance
The artwork was produced during a period when Close was expanding his repertoire beyond oil painting, experimenting with collage‑like methods while still referencing photographic imagery. It entered the Museum of Modern Art’s holdings, where it remains on display as part of the institution’s modern art collection.
Context
Close’s practice in the early 1980s often involved large‑format cameras to capture detailed photographs that he later reinterpreted in various media. This piece reflects that approach, translating a photographic portrait into a tactile assemblage that blurs the line between drawing and sculpture.
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.
