Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for detecting the chromatin state of a cell based on recording a super resolution image of nucleosome organization and correlating said imaged with size of nucleosomal clutches, nucleosomal density and/or number of nucleosomes per nucleosomal clutches. Additionally, the invention relates to a kit comprising a first antibody capable of specifically binding to a histone protein and a photoswitchable fluorophore linked-secondary antibody and the use of the kit of the invention for detecting the chromatin state of a cell and isolating a cell in an open chromatin state or in a closed chromatin state. The invention also relates to a device adapted to detect the chromatin state of a cell.