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

Editor: Here we have an x-radiograph of Rembrandt's "Portrait of a Woman" from the Harvard Art Museums. It's fascinating to see an image produced using technology! What can you tell me about how this x-ray enhances our understanding of the work? Curator: Well, radiographs allow us to see beneath the surface, revealing the artist's process and potential changes made to the composition. This reveals how artworks change over time. Can you see what appear to be different painting decisions? Editor: Yes, it looks like the hand placement may have shifted. It's like seeing the ghost of an earlier idea! Curator: Exactly! This is also related to the institutional role in art conservation, where technology informs how we preserve cultural heritage. Editor: It's incredible to consider all the layers of meaning embedded in one image. Thank you.