“Big Self-Portrait,” created by Chuck Close in 1968, is an acrylic painting on canvas. This artwork is associated with the Photorealism art movement and belongs to the genre of portraiture. It is housed at the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA.
The artwork is an imposing and hyper-realistic depiction of a close-up self-portrait of the artist. It showcases meticulous attention to detail, capturing every nuance of Close’s facial features, skin texture, and hair. The image emphasizes realism to an extraordinary degree, with elements such as the reflections in the spectacles, the intricate rendering of facial hair, and even the subtle shadows cast by the cigarette in the artist’s mouth. The stark, monochromatic palette accentuates the depth and the dimension of the subject’s face, invoking a powerful presence that is both intimate and strikingly lifelike.
