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

Curator: Here we have an x-radiograph of the “Portrait of a Man,” by an artist attributed to Henry Raeburn. It’s part of the collection at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It looks like the man's face is being overtaken, almost like a ghostly figure emerging from the layers of paint and canvas. Curator: Indeed. The radiographic process reveals so much about the underlayers, pentimenti, and the overall material construction of the painting. Think about the labor involved in stretching the canvas, preparing the ground, and the application of each layer of pigment. Editor: I’m also struck by how this image exposes the artifice behind portraiture. Who was this man? What power dynamics were at play between artist and sitter? Curator: Precisely, the x-ray allows us to dismantle the illusion and consider the physical object itself. Editor: It gives us a glimpse beneath the surface—both literally and figuratively. Curator: A fascinating study in process. Editor: Truly, a glimpse into hidden stories.