X-radiograph(s) of "Adoration of the Magi" 

Curator: This is an X-radiograph of Gerard David's "Adoration of the Magi," held at the Harvard Art Museums. It’s fascinating to see beneath the surface. Editor: It has this ghostly, ethereal quality. You can vaguely make out figures, but it feels like looking at a memory, veiled and indistinct. Curator: Exactly! The X-ray reveals the underdrawing and paint layers. The Magi, usually vibrant figures of worldly power, appear stripped bare. They're reduced to their essential forms. Editor: It subverts the traditional symbolism. The opulence and regal presence are gone, replaced by a sense of vulnerability and impermanence. Curator: The layers of paint usually meant to evoke a sense of awe are almost absent. We are left to consider the underlying structure, the skeleton of the image. Editor: It makes me think about the socio-political context of art restoration. What are we trying to preserve, and at what cost? The surface, or the underlying intent? Curator: Perhaps it reminds us that every image, every symbol, has a history layered within it, just waiting to be revealed. Editor: Indeed. It gives a whole new meaning to "Adoration."