X-radiograph(s) of "Portrait of a Lady" 

Editor: This is an x-radiograph of "Portrait of a Lady" after Lucas Cranach the Elder, residing in the Harvard Art Museums. The image feels ghostly, almost like an imprint. What does this reveal to you? Curator: The X-ray strips away the color and surface, revealing a symbolic depth charge. Notice how the woman's form is overlaid with a grid—it could signify societal constraints but also evokes the scientific gaze itself. Editor: I hadn't thought about the grid as a symbol itself. Curator: Indeed. Consider how the X-ray reveals hidden layers, implying a deeper truth beneath the surface. Does that resonate with ideas about identity of women at that time? Editor: Absolutely. It makes me think about the hidden lives and untold stories of women throughout history. Curator: Exactly. Visual symbols are culturally revealing.