X-radiograph(s) of "Man with Square Beard" 

Editor: This is an X-radiograph of "Man with Square Beard," a film of an artwork by Corneille de Lyon held at the Harvard Art Museums. It looks like the painting is behind bars. What do you see in this image? Curator: The gridded effect is fascinating; it reminds me of imprisonment, of hidden truths revealed, echoing in the way portraits often capture power yet also conceal the sitter's true self. Does the grid remind you of anything? Editor: It makes me think about the way digital images are structured. It's interesting to see that even an old painting can be broken down into pixels, in a way. Curator: Exactly! The grid highlights the construction of the image, and how layers of meaning are built upon each other. It's a reminder that what we see is never the whole story, but a constructed interpretation. Editor: That's such a cool perspective. I'll never look at an X-ray the same way. Curator: Nor will I; the digital comparison has given me a new appreciation for symbolism and image.