Chuck Close: Work (Hardcover)

~ Christopher Finch (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Christopher Finch has written the most thorough
consideration of Close s life and work yet. His
massive book handsomely illustrates every phase
of Close s art and every stage in its making." --Kenneth Baker, San Francisco Chronicle

"Chuck Close: Work ... brings all [Close s] work
together, and the result is astonishing. Like all great
art, Close s is work that demands to be reckoned
with work that forces us to shift our perspective." --Michael Hainey, GQ --This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

Product Description

The first comprehensive critical examination of one of America's most celebrated living artists.

Chuck Close reinvented portraiture almost four decades ago with a series of nine-foot-tall, black-and-white likenesses of himself and fellow artists, which astonished an art world dominated by minimalism and conceptualism. Close has since explored the possibilities implicit in his original breakthrough in an array of mediums. This lavish, large-format volume is the first to deal with all aspects of Close's career and to place them in a biographical context.

Christopher Finch's insight into Close's achievement comes by way of hundreds of studio visits and thousands of hours of conversation since he met Close in 1968. Finch provides an engaging, in-depth analysis of Close's portraits on canvas, from the continuous-tone airbrushed heads of the 1960s and `70s to the painterly "prismatic grids" of the past two decades. The more than 300 illustrations featured in the book include almost all of Close's paintings, a selection of his prints and multiples, and examples of his photographic oeuvre. Many unpublished photos from the artist's personal archive enrich the reader's understanding of his inspiring life and the fascinating processes he has invented to create his art. This beautifully designed volume reveals not only the variety of pictorial strategies Close has devised, but the extraordinary personality of the artist behind the work.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 335 pages
• Publisher: Prestel Publishing; illustrated edition edition (October 20, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 3791336762
• ISBN-13: 978-3791336763
• Product Dimensions: 13.6 x 11.7 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #53,830 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A very comprehensive volume, November 7, 2007

By	Ward J. Lamb (slate hill, new york United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book is large! And it has excellent reproductions and bio of the life of this magical man. Chuck Close has made a career,while battling disabilities that would have stopped lesser men.Christopher Finch noted art writer,assists Close in making this book autobiographical and personal,like the unpretentious Mr. Close.
The author and the artist together guide you through the evolution of Chuck Close noted modern portrait artist. You follow from air brush, to finger painting,collage disc painting, to the new color geometric masterpieces.
Chuck personally supervised color choices in the lay-out and it is truly impressive. 95 percent of his major work is here. Self portraits,friends , his wife etc. are all vividly executed. Seeing Chuck in action shows the scale of the major works!The works are huge,and the pictures show the studio environment he works in.
I was fortunate to attend his lecture,with both men ,and it Chuck says this is the definitive book!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great capstone for a long (and continuing) career, January 16, 2008

By	N. Bohac "dudasaurus rex" (San Francisco, CA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This really does not need to be that long. I am a huge fan of Chuck Close and have been so for years now. My personal library reflects this, with four other books and catalogs spanning his career. These books get brought out on a semi-consistent basis, as they all have something important to say about this mans art.

"Chuck Close: WORK" is a definitive piece that fills in any small holes about the story of this artist that might be obscured in some out of print catalog, as well as talking heavily about his process. If you are in the market for a book that gives the full Chuck Close biography while supplementing itself with beautiful illustrations and plenty of dialog about his process, do not hesitate to purchase this book.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Not just a feast for the eyes, November 11, 2007

By	Alan Fishman (New York, NY USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Christopher Finch has done a wonderful job of revealing both Chuck Close the man and the artist. This one of the best art retrospectives I have ever actually 'read' and enjoyed.

I too had a chance to hear both artist and author speak this week. While Chuck did say this is the definitive book on his work one can hope that he still has many productive years left to continue to awe and amaze his many admirers.