Kate Moss portrait by Chuck Close in the lobby of the Hotel Surrey on East 76th Street. By Paul Goldfinger © 2014.

Kate Moss is a famous model whose portrait greets guests by the elevators at the upscale hotel “Surrey” on East 76th Street.   Chuck Close, the photographer, is known for his unflinching photos of celebrities. Kate Moss didn’t mind that she would be without her facial protective armor–her makeup. She said that she has had enough pretty pictures over the years. She also posed naked for him, but not in the Surrey’s lobby.

I’m not a big fan of portraits because they are overrated as to what they reveal about the subjects, but this portrait of her face in your face has a powerful impact, not only physically, but knowing that one of the most beautiful women in the world would permit this image to be shown this way…