X-radiograph(s) of "Anna Maria de Schodt" 

Curator: Here we have an x-radiograph of "Anna Maria de Schodt" after Anthony van Dyck, part of the Harvard Art Museums collection. Editor: It looks like a ghost; the layers and shadows give it such an ethereal quality. Curator: Absolutely. As an x-ray, it reveals the artist's process—the underpainting and alterations that are usually hidden. Editor: You can see pentimenti, the artist’s changes, almost like echoes of decisions. The form becomes more dynamic. Curator: Think of the cultural memory embedded in this image, not only of the sitter, but of artistic practice itself. This radiograph becomes a symbol of hidden histories. Editor: The grayscale palette emphasizes the structure, the formal relationships under the surface. I appreciate seeing the skeleton of the image, so to speak. Curator: I think we discover an art object’s multifaceted existence when we engage with works such as this one. Editor: Indeed, this interplay between layers of visibility and invisibility offers a unique perspective on the creative process.