X-radiograph(s) of "Self-Portrait for Gauguin" Possibly 10 - 56

Curator: Here we have an X-radiograph of Vincent van Gogh's "Self-Portrait Dedicated to Gauguin" from the Harvard Art Museums. The film measures about 14 by 17 inches. Editor: Wow, seeing it like this, almost skeletal, gives you a sense of the raw energy, the hidden layers and struggle beneath the surface. It's hauntingly beautiful. Curator: Indeed. This X-ray offers a fascinating look beneath the visible paint layers. It reveals Van Gogh's process, how he reworked the canvas. Editor: It's like seeing the ghost of his artistic decisions. You can almost feel his hand moving, reconsidering, battling with the image he wanted to create. The anguish is palpable, even in this reversed, spectral form. Curator: It also speaks to the material realities of artmaking. Canvas was expensive, so artists often reused them, painting over earlier works. Editor: Knowing that there are hidden images beneath the surface, veiled narratives... it adds another layer of mystery to the artwork. It makes you wonder what else is hidden, not just in art, but in life. Curator: Absolutely. And understanding the economic and material constraints helps us to better appreciate Van Gogh's resourcefulness and artistic choices. Editor: It's funny; looking at it this way, you realize how much art is about more than just the visible image. It's about process, struggle, and the hidden stories waiting to be discovered.