X-radiograph(s) of "Still Life" 

Editor: Here we have an X-radiograph of "Still Life," originally by Jean-Baptiste-Siméon Chardin. It’s fascinating to see the painting like this, almost like an archaeological find. What can you tell me about it from a material perspective? Curator: This radiograph lays bare the process of artistic production. It reveals how Chardin layered his paints, the density of his pigments, and the underlying structure of the canvas. We see not just the still life, but the labor and materiality that constitute it. Editor: So, it’s about more than just what's depicted? Curator: Precisely. Consider the socioeconomic context: the availability of materials, the artist's studio practices, the very act of creating a commodity for consumption. What does this radiographic view expose about the art market of the time? Editor: It's like seeing the infrastructure beneath the surface of the artwork. I never thought about it that way. Curator: Exactly! It makes you wonder, what other hidden processes and materials are embedded in artworks we admire?