X-radiograph(s) of "Panel" 

Curator: Here we have an X-radiograph of "Panel," attributed to the circle of John Constable, currently residing in the Harvard Art Museums. Quite striking, wouldn't you agree? Editor: Absolutely. The x-ray reveals a strange tension between the visible woven support and the ghost of what's painted on top. It looks almost like a distorted grid, fighting for dominance. Curator: Yes, the underlying structure provides an almost geometric scaffolding. Note how the composition, particularly the darker areas, both adhere to and disrupt that grid. Editor: It speaks to the very labor and materiality of art making. Look at the uneven texture revealed by the x-ray— evidence of a hand applying layers, revealing the painting's history. Curator: Interesting. It does offer a unique perspective on the painting's genesis, a visual manifestation of its development. Editor: Perhaps that's where the emotional impact lies— seeing not just the finished product, but the process of creation itself. Curator: Indeed. A fascinating exploration of form and formation, wouldn't you say? Editor: Definitely. It prompts us to consider art not just as an image, but as a constructed object, and to value the unseen hand that created it.