X-radiograph(s) of "The Road Worker (the Stone Cutter)" 

Curator: This is an X-radiograph of Gustave Courbet's "The Road Worker (the Stone Cutter)," held in the Harvard Art Museums. The image provides insight into the artist's process, revealing layers beneath the visible surface. Editor: It feels ghostly, stark. The contrast emphasizes the physical act of labor, almost like an anatomical study of toil and struggle. Curator: Indeed, Courbet aimed to depict the realities of working-class life, a departure from idealized academic painting. This X-ray offers a literal look beneath the surface. Editor: It's compelling how this view reveals the underlying structure—almost a commentary on the unseen labor propping up society itself. You know, who are the road workers today and what would their X-rays look like? Curator: A powerful question to ponder. The materiality of the artwork here, revealed through radiographic technology, underscores Courbet's commitment to a tangible, unvarnished truth. Editor: It definitely prompts us to consider the layers of meaning and the hidden stories within even the most seemingly straightforward representations.