X-radiograph(s) of "La Modista" 

Curator: This is an x-radiograph of "La Modista," an artwork by Pietro Longhi, housed at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: Fascinating! It gives off a ghostly, spectral feeling, like peering into a lost world. The composition seems to dissolve into a textured haze. Curator: Precisely. The x-radiograph reveals the underpainting and the materiality of the artwork, highlighting the artist’s process. The densities and forms take on new abstract qualities. Editor: The figures themselves become like archetypes; their original context within Longhi's society almost irrelevant as we are confronted with elemental forms. The act of dressmaking becomes a ritual. Curator: I agree, its power lies in this very ambiguity. The original narrative is obscured, allowing us to focus on the fundamental structure. Editor: Yes, the image transcends Longhi's time. The medium strips away specific cultural references to reveal something universal. Curator: The image offers a glimpse beneath the surface, revealing the artistic architecture. Editor: Indeed, a haunting echo of creation.