X-radiograph(s) of "Portrait of Man (Bredius 192)" 

Curator: Looking at this X-radiograph of "Portrait of Man (Bredius 192)," attributed to Rembrandt, I'm struck by how forensic and revealing it is. Editor: Absolutely, it’s like an archaeologist’s dream, peering through time. My first thought: Wow, that support structure is a bit… patchwork, isn't it? Curator: Indeed. The wood panel reveals a kind of vulnerability, doesn't it? Knowing the painting is held at the Harvard Art Museums gives one a fresh perspective. Editor: Yes! One can imagine the artist, or perhaps a later conservator, scrambling to keep it all together. There's a hidden story here about the painting's own journey, it's preservation, isn’t it? Curator: Exactly! And I think that’s rather beautiful, a sort of accidental palimpsest that reflects not just Rembrandt’s hand, but also the hands that came after. Editor: It makes you wonder about the countless unseen layers beneath the surfaces of all those masterpieces. Curator: True, truly. It certainly enriches one's understanding.