X-radiograph(s) of "Venus" 

Curator: Here we have an X-radiograph of "Venus," originally by Lucas Cranach the Elder, currently held at the Harvard Art Museums. It's fascinating to see art through the lens of science, isn't it? Editor: Haunting! It looks like a ghost of beauty, or maybe beauty's skeleton. I’m feeling a bit unsettled. Is that the artist’s underdrawing showing through? Curator: Precisely! This radiograph allows us to peel back layers of history and process. You can observe the artist's initial approach and any changes made. These technical investigations can tell us so much about workshop practices of the time. Editor: I see it now – like an archaeological dig into a painting! I wonder if Cranach ever imagined his Venus would be subjected to this kind of scrutiny. It demystifies the artistic process, which is a little sad, but mostly, it’s incredible. Curator: Yes, it is, and a reminder that even celebrated artworks have a material presence and a story beyond their surface appeal, shaped by a wider context. Editor: I'll never look at a Cranach the same way again. Now I'll be wondering what secrets are hiding just beneath the surface, waiting to be x-rayed.