X-radiograph(s) of "Holy Family" 

Editor: This is an X-radiograph of "Holy Family" by Joos van Cleve, located at the Harvard Art Museums. The figures are visible through the X-ray, but it also shows the canvas's structure. What can we learn about this piece by looking beneath the surface? Curator: Well, X-radiography allows us to deconstruct the layers of meaning. This isn't just a depiction of the Holy Family; it's a material object with its own history of creation and perhaps restoration. What does it mean to expose the infrastructure of such an iconic image? Editor: It almost feels like we are seeing the historical context of the painting. Curator: Exactly. It challenges the idealized image and brings us closer to the labor, choices, and perhaps even the social conditions of its creation. It begs us to question the constructed nature of religious icons. Editor: That's fascinating! It adds another layer to understanding the artwork. Curator: Indeed, it reminds us that art is never neutral; it’s always embedded in a complex web of power and representation.