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

Editor: Here we have an X-radiograph of "Portrait of a Lady" by Dirck Dirckszoon van Santvoort. It’s fascinating to see this portrait revealed through a different process, like looking beneath the surface. What does this radiography reveal to you? Curator: We're seeing the material support and underlying paint layers, exposed by X-rays. Consider the labor involved. From the felling of the tree providing the panel to the grinding of pigments, each step relies on specific skills and resources. The radiography lets us look at how the work was constructed, how the materials were layered, and how the artist worked through the painting process. It transforms our understanding of the portrait from an image to an object. Editor: That's a great point. Seeing the materiality makes me think differently about what goes into creating a piece of art. Curator: Exactly! By focusing on the material, we can move beyond just aesthetics.