X-radiograph(s) of "Portrait of Dublin-Tornelle" 

Editor: This is an x-radiograph of Adelaide Labille-Guiard's "Portrait of Dublin-Tornelle." It's fascinating to see the layers beneath the surface. What does this kind of image reveal to you? Curator: It highlights the museum's role in preservation, doesn't it? X-rays like these expose the artist's process, choices and the material history of the work itself, even damage and repair. It also raises questions about transparency and what museums choose to reveal to the public. Editor: That's a good point about transparency. It makes you wonder what other secrets paintings might hold. Curator: Exactly. It also reminds us that art isn't just what we see on the surface, but a product of social and institutional forces throughout its life.