X-radiograph(s) of "Paul III (copy)" 

Curator: Here we have an X-radiograph of a copy of a portrait of Paul III, its creation date and author currently unknown. The film measures about 14 x 10 inches. Editor: My first impression is that it looks like a ghost! It's eerie but also kind of beautiful, like seeing a hidden truth beneath the surface. Curator: The X-ray reveals the underpainting and the structural elements beneath what we normally see, offering insight into the artist’s process and materials. Notice the density of the paint in certain areas. Editor: Absolutely, it's like a map of decisions, of revisions. You can almost feel the artist grappling with the image, trying to capture the essence of their subject. It definitely speaks to the layers of identity and representation. Curator: Indeed. The symbolism of portraiture itself speaks to power, legacy, and the desire to be remembered. Editor: Seeing it like this, though, almost strips that power away, revealing the vulnerability beneath the facade. It's wonderfully unsettling. Curator: Precisely. It’s fascinating how a technical process can open up such interpretive possibilities. Editor: It really does make you think differently about what it means to "see" a painting.