X-radiograph(s) of "Emmanuel Joseph Sieyes" 

Editor: This is an X-radiograph of Jacques-Louis David's portrait of "Emmanuel Joseph Sieyes" held at the Harvard Art Museums. It's a ghostly image! How does viewing art in this way change our understanding of its history? Curator: It certainly challenges our traditional experience. An X-radiograph reveals the underpainting, the artist's process, and any alterations made. Knowing Sieyes' political significance during the French Revolution, does seeing this "hidden" layer affect your interpretation of David's representation of power and ideology? Editor: It’s like peeking behind the curtain of the revolution itself, adding layers of complexity to the finished artwork. It makes me question how much of David’s final portrait was a deliberate choice and how much was built upon earlier ideas. Curator: Exactly! And that's where the social context comes in: David was a master of political imagery. This radiography gives us a glimpse into the construction of that imagery, and perhaps, the construction of Sieyes's public persona. Editor: That's fascinating. I'll never look at a portrait the same way again. Curator: Indeed, it prompts us to consider the layers of meaning and intention embedded within every artwork.