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

Editor: Here we have an X-radiograph of "Portrait of a Man," by Abraham de Vries. It's fascinating to see the portrait rendered in this ghostly way. What do you make of the composition? Curator: The grid-like structure imposed upon the portrait disrupts the traditional reading of the subject. It encourages us to see the painting as a series of formal elements rather than a seamless representation. Editor: So, the radiographic technique makes the underlying structure more visible than the subject himself? Curator: Precisely. The radiography reveals the painting's support and the application of paint, transforming the portrait into an object of study about painting itself. It prompts inquiry into the materiality of art. Editor: I see. It's a portrait that is also about the act of portraiture. I never thought of it that way before. Curator: Indeed, the artist's intent is subverted by the medium, inviting a dialogue between representation and abstraction.