X-radiograph(s) of "Count of Olivarez" 

Curator: This is an X-radiograph of the "Count of Olivarez," attributed to the School of Diego Rodriguez Velázquez, housed here at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It's ghostly, isn't it? An ethereal impression, like looking at a portrait through a veil. The varying densities imply a complex layering. Curator: Precisely! The X-ray reveals the artist's process, the underpainting and revisions invisible to the naked eye. It lets us analyze the materials used and the labor involved in its creation. Editor: The composition, even in this form, displays a clear structure—the way the face is illuminated from a single source, the geometry of the head against the background... fascinating. Curator: Absolutely. This image is less about aesthetics and more about the mechanics of production. Think about the socio-economic factors that enabled Velázquez's workshop to acquire and manipulate these materials. Editor: I find a certain beauty in this hidden architecture. The forms communicate an essence of the subject, even stripped bare of color and detail. It transcends pure materiality, wouldn't you agree? Curator: Perhaps. But for me, it's a reminder of the physical effort, the very human act of creation beneath the illusion. Editor: Well, I'm glad we can both appreciate the subject, even if from different perspectives. Curator: Indeed. It’s a revealing perspective on the artwork.