X-radiograph(s) of "John Moffat" 

Curator: This is an X-radiograph of "John Moffat," a portrait by John Greenwood. The stark greyscale gives it an almost ghostly feel. Editor: Indeed. The composition draws the eye immediately to the face, but the textural variations in tone and density are fascinating. Curator: Radiography reveals the artist's process. We can see the underpainting, pentimenti – the ghostly traces of adjustments made during its creation. Editor: And what does this X-ray tell us about the subject, John Moffat, in his time? Was he someone of particular importance? Curator: Moffat was a prominent figure, which justifies Greenwood's portrait. But the real subject here is how Greenwood constructs form. Editor: Perhaps. But I find the image's capacity to evoke a sense of history and mortality quite compelling, even beyond its formal qualities. Curator: A useful reminder that even the most technical process can yield something profoundly human. Editor: Precisely. It humanizes both subject and artist.