X-radiograph(s) of "Holy Family" 

Curator: This is an X-radiograph of a painting called "Holy Family," currently residing at the Harvard Art Museums, created by an anonymous artist. Editor: It looks like peering behind a veil. Spectral, almost haunting. It makes me wonder what secrets this family portrait is hiding. Curator: Exactly! X-radiography allows conservators to see beneath the surface, revealing the artist's process, hidden layers, and underdrawings that would otherwise remain invisible. Editor: So, we're seeing the bones of the creation, in a way? Like an archaeological dig into a single painting. The shadows tell a story of choices made and abandoned. Curator: Precisely. The use of X-rays here highlights how technology influences not only art creation but also how we perceive art history and art itself. Editor: It challenges the notion of a finished piece; it's more like an ongoing conversation between the artist and the materials. Curator: Indeed. It also prompts us to consider what remains unseen in art. I am left wondering if the artist would be amused that we’re viewing it this way. Editor: Yes, it makes you appreciate the mystery, the stories that a painting can hold within its layers.