X-radiograph(s) of "Lady with a Fan" 

Curator: Here we have an X-radiograph of "Lady with a Fan," originally by Rembrandt van Rijn. Editor: It's haunting! The fractured appearance creates a sense of vulnerability, almost as if we're seeing the hidden layers of both the painting and the subject. Curator: Indeed. The radiograph reveals not only the underpainting but also the painting's physical condition, providing crucial data for conservation. It also shapes the reception of art. Editor: Absolutely. Knowing the history, the potential damage and repair, deepens our understanding of its journey through time, doesn't it? It transforms our relationship with the artwork. Curator: It offers a transparent view into a cultural object's life, the decisions made about its care. Editor: A potent reminder that even the seemingly immutable is subject to change, decay, and intervention, both historically and in the present moment.