Though cut off at the edge of the composition, Lucas Samaras's forearm is perfectly centered over the obscure silhouette of his upper body in this self-portrait, As if the artist-subject was trying to say, "Don't look at me!" Samaras denies the viewers the ability to familiarize themselves with his facial features and instead emphasizes his highly detailed hand, a vital tool for making art. Thus his hand takes the place of his face and becomes a symbol of himself.

Samaras repeatedly focused attention on himself in his Photo-Transformations series. He often extensively altered these Polaroid self-portraits by manipulating the surface emulsions while they were fresh from the camera and still malleable.