"Close the Damn Door" is from a series of eighty-one pen & ink illustrations Kurt made in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. He drew these almost daily from March 16 (when Illinois "shut down") through June 24, 2020. Most of the illustrations (though not this one) feature 17th century Plague Doctors thrust into the world of the 21st-century pandemic. He knew that he had something with "Close the Damn Door" as he colorized it in preparation for a poster for future art displays.