X-radiograph(s) of "Self-Portrait ?" by Artist of original: Jacobello di Antonello

Artwork details

Location
Harvard Art Museums
Copyright
CC0 1.0

About this artwork

Editor: So, this is an X-radiograph of "Self-Portrait ?," by Jacobello di Antonello. It feels like looking at a hidden world beneath the surface. What can you tell us about it? Curator: Well, it’s like archaeology for art, isn’t it? An X-ray lets us peek beneath the visible layers. I'm fascinated by how it reveals the artist’s process, the underdrawings, pentimenti…it’s the ghost of the painting’s creation. Do you see how the face seems to shift slightly? Editor: I do, now that you mention it! It’s almost like the artist was searching for the right expression. I never thought about art this way, as something with its own hidden history. Curator: Exactly! And it reminds us that what we see isn't always the whole story. Editor: Definitely gives me a new perspective.

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