X-radiograph(s) of "Mrs. Ann Tyng Smelt" 

Curator: Looking at this x-radiograph of John Singleton Copley's "Mrs. Ann Tyng Smelt," I'm struck by its ghostly quality. The portrait's subject seems suspended between visibility and erasure. Editor: Indeed. This image, far from being a typical artwork, offers a glimpse into the material history of the painting itself. It’s a peek behind the curtain, revealing the layers beneath the surface of representation. Curator: It brings to mind the intersectional questions of representation and visibility, particularly concerning women in the colonial era. What is seen, what is hidden, and how do we excavate these histories? Editor: Absolutely. Radiography provides a unique form of access, one that could not have been imagined during Copley's time. It's a chance to explore art history through a contemporary lens. Curator: It feels almost like an act of historical re-examination, a dialogue between past and present about how we perceive and interpret portraiture. Editor: Yes, a radical disruption of the established narrative. It compels us to question the very foundations of art historical analysis. A powerful tool, indeed!