X-radiograph(s) of "Portrait of a Man" 

Editor: This is an X-radiograph of "Portrait of a Man" by Werner van den Valckert, housed at the Harvard Art Museums. It's fascinating to see the portrait revealed through this technique, yet somewhat obscured by the wood grain. What does this process tell us about the artwork? Curator: Considering this X-radiograph, we can reflect on the physicality of the artwork. How might the material properties of the paint and canvas interact with the X-ray? Can we learn about the artist's process through the layers revealed, challenging our typical viewing experience? Editor: That's a great point, I hadn't considered the materiality of the paint itself. Thank you! Curator: Thinking about the process and what is revealed gives us so much more appreciation for the art itself.