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

Curator: This is an x-radiograph of Amedeo Modigliani's "Portrait of a Boy", currently held at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It's a ghostly image. The stark contrast emphasizes the artist's process of building up layers, almost like a spectral archaeology of the painting. Curator: Precisely. Radiography allows us to analyze the underlayers, the materiality that's usually concealed, revealing the labor and modifications behind the final piece. This gives insight into Modigliani's working method. Editor: The composition seems quite active, even chaotic. You can almost feel the energy of his brushstrokes beneath the surface. The formal elements, despite the monochrome, convey depth and texture. Curator: It moves beyond just the aesthetic. We can consider the availability of materials, the economic pressures that might have led to reusing canvases, or the evolving societal perceptions of portraiture. Editor: Seeing the bones of the painting prompts a different kind of appreciation. It's like experiencing a secret history of the image. Curator: Indeed, it prompts us to reassess how we value both artistic creation and the very fabric of art history. Editor: I agree. It offers a unique glimpse into the artist's hand and the evolution of this portrait.