X-radiograph(s) of "La Lecture Interrompue" 

Curator: At first glance, this x-radiograph of "La Lecture Interrompue"—"The Interrupted Reading"—presents as an eerie abstraction. Editor: Indeed, the composition is stark. The varying densities suggest layers, perhaps pentimenti, creating an almost ghostly image. Curator: X-radiography allows us to peer beneath the surface of Corot's painting, revealing his working methods and the evolution of the composition. Editor: It really underscores the idea of art as process, not just a static end product. The materiality of the paint itself becomes a subject. Curator: Absolutely. And this process is deeply entwined with the art market and collecting practices—the piece currently resides at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: Yes, these forensic views transform how we interpret an established master and the value we place on the creative journey itself. It's fascinating.