X-radiograph(s) of "Village Fair" 

Curator: Here we have an X-radiograph of "Village Fair," attributed to the School of Jan Brueghel the Elder, held here at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: My first thought? It’s like peering into the soul of a painting. All the hidden underlayers, the structure revealed. Curator: Indeed. Radiography offers a non-destructive means to analyze the construction of a painting, revealing alterations, pentimenti, and the materials used. We can study the canvas weave, pigment distribution, and even the artist's technique. Editor: I love how it demystifies the creative process. It's like the ghost of the village fair is still bustling beneath the surface. It makes me wonder what the artist was thinking as they worked. What secrets are embedded in those layers? Curator: Precisely! It gives us a scientific approach to understanding art, beyond aesthetics. Editor: Still, it’s beautiful in its own right, isn't it? This hidden dimension. Curator: Absolutely. It’s a testament to the multilayered complexity inherent in even the most seemingly simple works of art.