Chuck Close's work is most often associated in the popular mind with his own likeness. Although it has been chosen by the artist largely for the sake of convenience, Close's self portraits provide an interesting arena for gauging the development of his thought and work over four decades. The insouciant stare of the young artist in earlier works represents a striking contrast to the stolid, knowing gaze of the older Close as represented in this self-portrait from 2015. Indeed, the comparison illustrates the evolution from fledgling artist to international icon. Compared to the earlier work, the works from the 21st century also show how abstraction has come to play a more prominent role in Closes's portraits. Each of the individual units of the grid is a miniature abstract painting unto itself, comprising a panoply of colors and shapes that seem to have jumped directly to the canvas from the artist's palette.

Created in 2015, this 84-color woodcut print is hand-signed by Chuck Close in pencil in the lower margin and numbered from the edition of 70. The work is floated in a white-washed maple frame.