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

Curator: Well, this X-radiograph offers us a peek behind the curtain, doesn't it? It's an X-ray of Lucas Cranach the Elder's "Portrait of a Man," currently residing here at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It's like peering into a ghost. There's a real sense of decay, a stripping away that reveals a hidden truth. Curator: Precisely. Look at how the lead white in the paint layers reveals itself. The skeletal framework becomes visible, emphasizing the artist's process, almost as a semiotic symbol. Editor: And beyond the technical, I see vanitas symbols emerging from the shadows. The fleeting nature of existence is magnified by this glimpse beneath the surface. It’s a powerful memento mori. Curator: Indeed. What was hidden is now manifest, and the formal structure is laid bare. The artist’s careful orchestration of pigment and form becomes almost a new composition entirely. Editor: It gives you pause, doesn't it? To think about what lies beneath the surface, both literally and metaphorically. Curator: I find that the painting takes on added layers when you can literally see its layers. Editor: Exactly. This X-ray has enriched the meaning of the piece, adding psychological weight to Cranach's artistic vision.