X-radiograph(s) of "Still Life" 

Curator: Here we have an X-radiograph of Still Life after Jan Weenix. It's currently held in the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: Fascinating! At first glance, it feels like a ghostly echo, stripping away the color and leaving only the skeletal remains of the composition. Curator: Exactly. Think about the labor involved. Weenix painstakingly layered paints, perhaps unaware his material choices would one day reveal themselves in this way. Editor: I'm drawn to the way these hidden structures emerge. Do they represent vanity? The transience of life concealed beneath beautiful surfaces? Curator: It shows us artistic intent, the presence of lead white in the paint layers, and allows conservators insight into the painting's structure. It bridges the gap between art and science. Editor: It’s a potent reminder that what we see isn’t always the complete picture. Curator: Indeed, materiality offers a deeper interpretation.