X-radiograph(s) of "Portrait of a Man" Possibly 16 - 64

Curator: Here we have an X-radiograph of "Portrait of a Man," attributed to Rembrandt, held in the Harvard Art Museums collection. Editor: It looks like a ghostly outline, a face barely there in the weave of the canvas. What can this tell us? Curator: X-radiography provides insight into the artist's process, revealing underlayers and pentimenti. It shows how the image evolved, adding layers to our understanding of Rembrandt's practice. Editor: It's like seeing the labor behind the image, the material history of the making. The canvas texture jumps out; the material asserting itself. Curator: Absolutely! X-rays also serve a key role in conservation and authentication, adding scientific authority to the study of art history. Editor: This allows us to see art making as a process that is subject to specific labor and material conditions. Curator: Precisely! It brings to light the many layers of meaning embedded within this image. Editor: Seeing this portrait's inner workings is fascinating; it offers a glimpse into what is usually hidden.