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

Curator: This is an X-radiograph of "Portrait of a Man," by Guido Reni. The film measures 14 by 17 inches and offers us an unusual glimpse beneath the surface. Editor: It's ghostly, almost eerie. The shadows hint at a face, but it feels more like a landscape of material density. Curator: Exactly! This process reveals so much about Reni’s technique. We see the build-up of paint layers, pentimenti even. Editor: And the canvas itself—look at that texture! It speaks to the artist’s choice of materials, the very support upon which the image exists. What does this X-ray tell us about the original context? Curator: It invites us to question authenticity, to reconsider the power dynamics inherent in authorship and the value we assign to the artist's hand. Editor: Indeed. It's a material record meeting the theoretical discourse. Intriguing to think about the layers beneath what we perceive. Curator: A fitting reminder to look beyond the surface, both literally and figuratively. Editor: Absolutely. It offers an analysis of the art-making process in the language of physics.