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

Curator: This is an x-radiograph of "Portrait of a Girl," attributed to Aelbert Cuyp and held in the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It's strikingly ghostly, isn’t it? The stark contrasts and textures create an almost unsettling beauty. Curator: Indeed. What’s fascinating here is how the radiography reveals the artist's process; it exposes the layers of paint, the underdrawing, the very materiality of artmaking. Editor: The image reveals hidden structural relationships. See the subtle shifts in composition, barely perceptible to the naked eye? It really underscores the invisible framework underpinning the piece. Curator: It speaks volumes about the labor and time invested in creating such a portrait, while also prompting us to question the value assigned to these practices. Editor: Agreed. In its exposure, the image seems to undermine established categories of value within the visual arts. Curator: Yes. An unconventional view that gives us an alternative to consider. Editor: Quite. A unique glimpse into the artist’s hand.