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

Curator: Here we have an X-radiograph of "Portrait of a Man" after Corneille de Lyon. The film itself measures 8 by 7 inches. Editor: It’s like seeing a ghost. The checkerboard effect gives me this strange feeling of peering through a veil. Curator: Indeed. The X-ray reveals the artist's process, literally showing what lies beneath the surface: the density of the paint, perhaps even earlier iterations of the portrait. Editor: That's fascinating. It’s a modern eye looking at a Renaissance face. The symbols of power and masculinity—the clothing, the gaze—are stripped bare. Curator: Yes, we lose the color, the surface appeal, but gain insights into the materials and their application. This makes us consider labor and value differently. Editor: It almost feels like a memento mori, a reminder of mortality, not just of the subject, but of the art itself. Curator: By looking beneath the visible layers, we gain a new perspective on artistic creation and our relationship to the art object. Editor: Ultimately, this image prompts reflection on the passage of time, the way we perceive both art and ourselves.