X-radiograph(s) of "Portrait of a Man" 

Curator: Here we have an X-radiograph of "Portrait of a Man," attributed to a follower of Jacopo Tintoretto, found in the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: Initially, the blurred monochrome evokes a haunting visage, barely discernible—almost like a ghostly afterimage rather than a structured portrait. Curator: The X-radiograph allows us to peek beneath the surface, revealing the artist's process, the under layers and pentimenti invisible to the naked eye. It also serves to authenticate artworks. Editor: The swirling patterns and blurred edges suggest a dynamic approach to form; despite the lack of color, one can sense a restless energy underlying the visible imagery. Curator: Given Tintoretto's influence during the Counter-Reformation, the portrait may reflect the era's emphasis on individual character and morality. The man's identity may have been lost to the passage of time. Editor: A loss, perhaps, but the X-ray view provides its own stark beauty, shifting our perception. Curator: Indeed, a reminder that what we see is always just one layer of a far more complex reality.