X-radiograph(s) of "Margaret Sewall" 

Editor: Here we have an X-radiograph of "Margaret Sewall," attributed to John Smibert. It's fascinating to see this beneath the surface. What can you tell me about this piece? Curator: It reveals the labor and material processes hidden in the painting’s creation. Consider the artist's hand and the physical act of layering paint; this image hints at the evolution of the portrait, maybe revisions, the underpainting, and the canvas itself. Editor: That's a very different way of looking at it than I would have expected. I'll keep that in mind. Curator: Indeed, it moves beyond just the surface-level depiction to the very means of production.