X-radiograph(s) of "Self-Portrait (?)" 

Curator: What strikes me first is the stark contrast, a visual grid in shades of gray and black, almost like a deconstructed Piet Mondrian. Editor: Indeed. We are looking at an X-radiograph of "Self-Portrait (?)", potentially by Rembrandt van Rijn, housed at the Harvard Art Museums. It's a fascinating look beneath the surface, quite literally. Curator: Seeing this, it recalls the symbolic weight of unveiling, the hidden stories and layers that define identity and art. Does this radiographic view dismantle the myth of the artist’s persona? Editor: Perhaps. Or maybe it reinforces it. The formal composition here invites us to consider the structure, the very bones of the painting. Notice how the lines create a sense of order, even in this skeletal view. Curator: It is a potent reminder that beneath every image, every constructed identity, there lies a deeper, unseen reality. A cultural memory. Editor: Absolutely, a dialogue between surface and depth, absence and presence. It's a compelling example of how art can reveal even in its most hidden forms. Curator: An X-ray inviting us to reflect on the nature of seeing itself. Editor: A perfect endnote.