The Easel

The Mysterious Metamorphosis of Chuck Close

A view of an autumnal artist. “By [2015] it was clear to everyone around Close that something unusual was going on with him.” Disenchantment with the art world and a divorce are contributors. Another speculation – conflict between Close’s desire to “[settle] into a quiet peace with the twilight of his life” and a competing view that “artists don’t retire … the late stage can be very interesting.”