X-radiograph(s) of "The Beach at Scheveningen" 

Curator: This is an X-radiograph of "The Beach at Scheveningen," after Adriaen van de Velde, part of the collection at the Harvard Art Museums. It's fascinating, isn't it? Editor: Absolutely, my first thought is of unveiling. It's stripped bare, like an archeological dig into the canvas itself. Curator: Precisely, X-radiography allows us to peek beneath the surface, revealing the painting's hidden history, its alterations, and even the artist's process. Consider what narratives are layered beneath the final image. Editor: The social history behind its creation and the eventual theft. How its disappearance resonates with themes of loss and the vulnerability of cultural heritage. Curator: Indeed. It allows us to contemplate the layered histories of art and its journey through time, what is visible, and what has been deliberately or accidentally concealed. Editor: It's a potent reminder that every artwork contains multiple untold stories, shaped by the forces of politics and circumstance.