X-radiograph(s) of "Portrait of Sir H. Wynch" 

Curator: This is an x-radiograph of an anonymous portrait, believed to be of Sir H. Wynch, residing in the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It's eerie, like looking at a soul trapped in a grid. What does this reveal about the subject beyond a simple portrait? Curator: X-radiography allows us to penetrate the surface, revealing hidden layers and the artist's process. It's a window into the painting's history, shaped by social and institutional practices of conservation. Editor: Absolutely. Perhaps it shows a palimpsest of power, how identities are constructed and revised, much like the painting itself. The stark contrast speaks to the hidden narratives within portraiture, doesn't it? Curator: Indeed. It forces us to confront the constructed nature of representation itself. Editor: This glimpse behind the curtain leaves me contemplating the ethics of seeing. Curator: A powerful reminder that art's meaning is never fixed.