X-radiograph(s) of "Male Portrait" 

Editor: This is an x-radiograph of "Male Portrait" by Frans Hals, hanging at the Harvard Art Museums. It’s fascinating to see the layers beneath the surface. What can we learn about the construction of the painting from this image? Curator: Observe how the x-radiograph reveals the density and application of the paint. Note the variations in texture and the underlying structure—the canvas weave itself. How might Hals's brushwork and layering contribute to the overall composition, even unseen? Editor: So the artist's technique is visible, even in this abstract form. Curator: Precisely. Consider this image as a study of materiality, form, and the artistic process, divorced from representational concerns. The x-ray unveils hidden compositional dynamics. Editor: That makes me think differently about what we consider the final artwork. Curator: Indeed. It allows us to view art as a process, not just a product, and appreciate the intrinsic qualities of painting itself.