X-radiograph(s) of "Magdalen" 

Curator: This is an X-radiograph of "Magdalen," attributed to Carlo Cignani, currently held in the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: The image feels ghostly, like peering beneath the surface of a dream. It’s unsettling and strangely beautiful. Curator: Indeed. X-radiography allows us to see the underlayers, the artist's process, revealing pentimenti and changes in composition not visible to the naked eye. Editor: It raises questions about representation. Is this the real Magdalen, or just a constructed image, a symbol of repentance manipulated by the artist? And by extension, the church? Curator: It’s a window into the artist's mind, but also, as you suggest, into the cultural psyche that shaped interpretations of figures like Mary Magdalen. The layers mirror the complexities of her story. Editor: Ultimately, this radiographic view reminds us that even icons are built, not born. It gives us space to challenge and re-imagine these stories. Curator: A powerful reminder of the stories beneath the surface of any image.