X-radiograph(s) of "Joseph's Dream" 

Curator: This is an x-radiograph of "Joseph's Dream", attributed to Rembrandt. What strikes you most about it? Editor: Its ghostly quality! The stark contrast between light and shadow gives it such an ethereal feel, doesn't it? It's like looking at a hidden layer of history. Curator: Absolutely. X-radiography allows us to peer beneath the surface, revealing the artist's process. We see the underpainting, pentimenti – the changes Rembrandt made as he worked. Editor: It's fascinating to consider the materials in play here, how the density of the pigments interacts with the X-rays. It really underscores the physical labor and iterative nature of creating a painting. Curator: Indeed. And consider the context: Rembrandt's workshop, the cultural significance of biblical narratives. How do these elements contribute to its reading? Editor: Seeing this radiograph makes you think about art not as a static object, but as an ongoing process and an intersection between craft, labor, and meaning. Curator: A powerful reminder that art history is also a material history. Editor: Precisely. It reframes how we see the art and the artist!