X-radiograph(s) of "Banker and his Wife" 

Curator: Here we have an x-radiograph of Quentin Metsys' "Banker and his Wife," currently residing at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: Intriguing! It resembles a ghostly grid, revealing the inner layers of paint application. The process itself becomes visible. Curator: Indeed. The composition's stark contrast highlights structural elements otherwise hidden, underscoring Metsys' deliberate layering and reworking. Editor: This radiographic view forces us to consider not just the finished image, but the very materiality, the physical act of creation, and the choices made in its construction. Curator: Precisely. It's a study in form, revealed through the unveiling of hidden strata. Editor: Seeing the materiality brought forth, it’s as if the labor of artmaking is presented as worthy of observation. Curator: Yes, revealing the underlying geometry adds another level to appreciating composition. Editor: It definitely provides a fresh perspective on the value of labor.