X-radiograph(s) of "Education of Cupid (copy)" 

Curator: This is an X-radiograph of "Education of Cupid (copy)," after John Trumbull. What are your first thoughts? Editor: It's ghostly, like a hidden map of colonial desires and their inevitable decay. Curator: The x-ray reveals the underpainting, the structure. We see the weave of the canvas so clearly. Editor: And perhaps the exploitation inherent in artistic production, the unseen labor and historical context that supports even a copy. Curator: The composition, though, remains compelling, even in this skeletal form. The lines still suggest form, even figure. Editor: Yes, but the subject matter itself – Cupid being educated – speaks to the indoctrination of values, the reproduction of power structures. Curator: I see a fascinating study of form and process. Editor: I see a revealing glimpse into art’s role in perpetuating societal norms, now exposed for scrutiny. Curator: Indeed, and it provides a new way to appreciate Trumbull’s initial design. Editor: Precisely, and by understanding its historical dimensions, we can challenge and re-evaluate its place in our current social discourse.