X-radiograph(s) of "Girl with Bowl" 

Curator: Here we have an X-radiograph of Frans Hals' "Girl with Bowl," currently residing at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: Striking! The X-ray unveils the hidden layers beneath the surface. It’s almost ghostly, revealing the underpainting. Curator: Indeed. It invites us to consider the materiality of the artwork beyond its surface image, exposing the artist's process and the evolution of the composition. These forensic methods open discourse about labor and authenticity. Editor: I'm captivated by the way the X-ray recontextualizes the girl's image. Stripped of color and texture, she becomes a symbol of vulnerability, filtered through layers of analysis and, dare I say, scrutiny. Curator: The grid overlaying the image can be understood as the grid of power structures that have always been embedded in the analysis of art. Editor: Food for thought! Seeing how the material analysis can intertwine with the socio-political narrative really deepens our understanding.