X-radiograph(s) of "Rev. Samuel Stillman" 

Curator: Here we have an X-radiograph of the "Rev. Samuel Stillman" portrait by Christian Gullager. It provides a ghostly glimpse beneath the surface. Editor: It's like an archaeological find—revealing a hidden history of the painting itself. You can see the craquelure in sharp relief. Curator: Indeed. It speaks to the cultural value we place on uncovering hidden truths. Imaging techniques like these allow museums to understand the artist's process, previous restorations, and structural integrity. Editor: The face—faint but present—feels like a symbolic echo, almost a memento mori. The painting’s aging becomes part of its story. Curator: Absolutely. This X-radiograph reminds us that art is not static. Its meaning evolves as it ages, and as our understanding of it deepens through technologies like these. Editor: I’m left pondering how time etches its mark, physically and conceptually.