X-radiograph(s) of "Self-Portrait" 

Curator: Here we have an X-radiograph of "Self-Portrait" by Rembrandt van Rijn, held at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It looks like a ghost! Seriously, a spectral image emerging from the canvas’s skeleton. Curator: Indeed. These radiographs give us insight into the process and material history of the painting. They show how the artist constructed the work layer by layer. Editor: It’s eerie, seeing the inner workings like this. It's like seeing inside Rembrandt's mind, the very bones of his creative thought. But in a very abstract way. Curator: They also allow art historians to authenticate the artwork, detect changes, and reveal earlier compositions beneath the surface. Editor: It's fascinating to see it stripped bare, all pretense gone, just the raw essence of creation. It's as if the painting is telling us a secret. Curator: Absolutely. It’s a glimpse beneath the surface, revealing hidden depths and providing a new perspective on a familiar masterpiece. Editor: Who knew an x-ray could be so moving? It really makes you think about what lies beneath the surface, both in art and in ourselves.