X-radiograph(s) of "Madonna and Child" 

Curator: Before us, we have a radiograph, a film sized 14 by 17, of "Madonna and Child," attributed to Allegretto Nuzi, held at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It's so ghostly. You can see the cracks in the paint so clearly. It's like looking at the bones of a painting. Curator: Exactly. The x-ray reveals the artist's process, the layers of paint, and the materials used to construct the image. It prompts reflection on artistic labor and the physical creation of art. Editor: And beyond that, it makes me think about the role of the Madonna in society. This is a powerful image, even in this skeletal form, reminding us of the cultural and religious narratives surrounding motherhood and divinity. Curator: Agreed. It's fascinating how the unseen structure informs our perception of the surface. Editor: A great reminder that what we see is always underpinned by layers of history, materiality, and meaning.