X-radiograph(s) of "Mrs. Skiner" 

Curator: This is an X-radiograph of "Mrs. Skinner," taken from a portrait originally by John Singleton Copley. The film size is 14 x 17. Editor: It's eerie, isn't it? Like a ghost trapped within the canvas. The grayscale rendering emphasizes the stark contrast between light and shadow. Curator: Indeed. X-radiography, from an art historical perspective, provides invaluable insight. It allows us to peer beneath the visible surface, revealing the artist's process, pentimenti, and the materiality of the painting itself. Editor: Consider Copley’s positioning of women in colonial society. This gaze of Mrs. Skinner, frozen in time and technique, tells of a cultural moment and the construction of identity. Curator: Precisely! Observe how the density of the paint creates varied shades. It speaks to Copley’s technique, his layering and blending. Editor: It also reflects the evolving scientific practices intersecting with art at the time. Fascinating how technology reveals layers both physical and cultural. Curator: A confluence, indeed. A perfect example of how science exposes and we interpret. Editor: Absolutely. It makes you think about what's truly visible and what remains unseen in art and history.