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

Editor: Here we have an X-radiograph of "Portrait of a Man" by Jacopo Tintoretto. The skeletal nature of the X-ray gives this such a ghostly feel. What can we learn from viewing this work through a radiographic lens? Curator: It's crucial to remember that even an X-ray is not neutral. What choices were made in producing this image? How does the technology used here shape our understanding of Tintoretto and his subject's identity within 16th-century Venetian society? Editor: I see what you mean. The technology acts as a filter through which we view the portrait, shaping how we perceive both the artist and the subject. Curator: Exactly! The harshness of the X-ray could be interpreted as an aggressive act of revelation, stripping away layers to expose a hidden truth, or perceived truth, about power structures and representation. How does this inform your understanding of the art? Editor: It makes me consider the role of technology in constructing meaning, not just revealing it. Thanks for helping me think about it differently! Curator: Indeed. The act of looking itself is never neutral.