X-radiograph(s) c. 1 - 72

Curator: This is an X-radiograph of a painting believed to be by Abraham Bloemaert, residing here at the Harvard Art Museums. It’s a fascinating look beneath the surface. Editor: Whoa, it looks like the dark side of the moon! Eerie and beautiful. It gives me chills, like a peek into secrets. Curator: Precisely! X-radiography allows us to see layers, alterations, and even previous compositions. Think about the ethical implications of revealing art's hidden aspects. Editor: It’s like archaeology of the soul, right? Stripping away the artist's intention, maybe… but also revealing their process, the struggle, the evolution. Curator: It raises questions about authenticity, conservation, and the museum's role in presenting the "truth" about a work of art. Editor: But sometimes the truth is messy, isn't it? I mean, this image – it's not what the artist meant us to see, but it is what the painting *is*. It’s like the painting has a skeleton, and we get to see it! Curator: Indeed, and understanding this inner structure contributes to our evolving knowledge of art history. Editor: I dig it. I’ll never look at a painting the same way again.