X-radiograph(s) of "Study of Head of an Old Man" Possibly 16 - 64

Curator: Here we have an X-radiograph of Rembrandt van Rijn's "Study of Head of an Old Man," part of the Harvard Art Museums collection; the film itself measures 8 by 12 inches. Editor: It's fascinating how the X-ray reveals the wood grain so vividly, like a ghost image made material. Curator: Absolutely. This process allows us to look beyond the surface and see the artist's construction, the layers, and perhaps even pentimenti. Editor: It also speaks to the materiality of artmaking. We get a glimpse of the support structure, of the labour and carpentry involved in creating a surface for painting. Curator: Indeed. This almost scientific view enhances our understanding of Rembrandt's technique and the historical context of his practice. Editor: Looking at it this way definitely takes away the preciousness we tend to associate with art and returns it to the realm of craft and tangible processes.