X-radiograph(s) of "Self-Portrait" 

Curator: Here we have an x-radiograph of Francisco Goya's "Self-Portrait," currently residing at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It's a ghostly visage! The weave of the canvas is so prominent; you can practically feel the texture. Curator: Indeed. Seeing beneath the surface reveals the complex layering, the artist's hand at work, the very material construction of identity and representation. It makes me consider Goya's role, his positioning as a court painter amidst societal upheavals. Editor: And the process, the physical act of layering paint, scraping it away, building up the image. The history imbued in the materials themselves. Curator: This image challenges us to think about power, about who gets to create and whose image is privileged and preserved. Editor: The process reveals so much about how the original was put together. It’s an almost archaeological view into art making itself. It’s fascinating. Curator: Absolutely. It offers a new lens through which to consider not only Goya's work but also the broader social dynamics of portraiture and the artist's role in society. Editor: A view through the materials as much as the lens of history.