Skip to Main Content

Chuck Close, John, 1972

During Close’s first visit to Crown Point Press he attempted a photo-etching, in which etched plates inked in magenta, cyan, and yellow are sequentially printed to produce a full-color photographic image. Close was, at this time, making airbrush paintings using a similar tricolor procedure (see below). After a number of small test proofs were pulled, Close decided that he was not interested in a straightforward photomechanical print and discontinued the project.

John in Progress, 1971-1972

Chuck Close, John, an airbrush painting in progress, recorded in time-lapse photographs, 1971–1972, © Chuck Close, Courtesy Pace Gallery

Banner image: Detail, Chuck Close, John (proof for unpublished print), 1972, color photo-etching on wove paper, Gift of Kathan Brown © Chuck Close, Courtesy Pace Gallery

Next: Chuck Close, Leslie, 1986