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

Curator: This is an x-radiograph of John Singleton Copley's "Portrait of a Man," currently held at the Harvard Art Museums. The film size is 14 x 17 inches. Editor: It's eerie, seeing the skeletal structure beneath the visible image. The texture is so prominent too, a matrix of lines. Curator: Exactly. The x-ray reveals hidden layers, the underpainting and techniques Copley employed, which speaks to his process of constructing identity for elite subjects. Editor: The strong contrasts highlight the collar, almost giving it a spectral glow. It seems to be the focal point, drawing the eye. Curator: That starkness underscores the importance of presentation in colonial portraiture, the emphasis on status and the performance of gentility within a specific social hierarchy. Editor: Fascinating how this scientific view transforms our understanding. It moves us beyond the surface, to the hidden construction of the image, quite literally. Curator: Indeed, it allows us to consider the political underpinnings of artistic choices. Editor: A great reminder that even portraits contain much more than meets the eye.