X-radiograph(s) of "Portait of a Young Man" 

Curator: Here we have an X-radiograph of "Portrait of a Young Man," originally by Lucas Cranach the Elder, housed at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It’s eerie, like a ghostly trace. You can see the skeletal underpainting – the raw materiality beneath the surface. Curator: Precisely! This technology allows us to see beyond the finished image, unveiling the artist's process and the evolution of the portrait. Editor: It makes you think about the labor hidden within the final product. How much was planned, how much was improvised, what was concealed by the artist's choices? Curator: Indeed. It gives us insight into the creation process, while also considering the place of art and technology today. Editor: Seeing this, I’m reminded of the power of unseen processes. The materials, the layers, the labor are all part of the story of this work. Curator: It’s truly a fascinating lens through which to appreciate art history.