X-radiograph(s) of "Thomas Fitch" 

Editor: This is an X-radiograph of "Thomas Fitch," attributed to John Smibert, its date unknown. The ghostly visage emerging from the canvas is quite striking. What do you see in this piece, beyond the literal? Curator: The radiographic technique reveals the underpainting and the material structure of the work itself. Consider the density of the white areas – where the lead-based paint is thickest, it obscures the lower layers. The craquelure, the network of fine cracks, articulates the age and physical transformation of the medium itself. Editor: So, the cracks aren't imperfections but rather, part of the artwork's story? Curator: Precisely. They evidence the inherent tensions within the materials, the push and pull between the artist’s intention and the inevitable decay. The image is an index of time’s passage, made visible through scientific intervention. Editor: That gives me a totally different perspective on the image. Thanks! Curator: Indeed. By looking at this image, we gain a deeper understanding of the artwork's inherent qualities.