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

Editor: Here we have an X-radiograph of "Portrait of a Woman" by Jan Anthonisz. van Ravesteyn from the Harvard Art Museums. Seeing it this way, in radiographic form, gives it such an eerie quality. What can you tell me about it? Curator: It's fascinating to see this radiographic perspective. It reveals not just the artist's technique, but also the painting's history. These X-rays were likely taken for conservation, an institutional act of preservation. What does this process say about the value we place on art and its physical presence? Editor: That’s so interesting to think about! It's like the museum is performing a type of archeology, digging into the layers of art history. Curator: Exactly! It highlights the layers of meaning, both literal and metaphorical, embedded in the work. A portrait, already a constructed image, is further mediated by this scientific gaze. Editor: I never thought about it that way. Seeing it as a form of cultural interpretation gives it a whole new dimension.