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

Curator: Here we have an X-radiograph of "Portrait of a Girl," originally by Dirck van Santvoort. The film itself measures 14 by 17 inches and is part of the Harvard Art Museums collection. Editor: My first impression? Haunting. It's like seeing a ghost caught in a grid—a soul trying to peek through a veiled world. Curator: The grid is an artifact of the radiography, but you're right, the portrait underneath does seem to struggle through. It’s a glimpse beneath the surface, offering insight into the artist's process, potential underdrawings, and the material composition. Editor: Exactly! It’s the unseen made visible, a kind of visual archaeology. I imagine the original artist layering glazes, each one imbued with intent, now revealed by science. A meeting of worlds! Curator: Indeed. It reminds us that images hold hidden depths, both literal and metaphorical. They are vessels of cultural memory and psychological projection, even when seemingly transparent. Editor: Well, I am leaving here intrigued. The X-ray's stark beauty lingers. What a way to see an old master!