X-radiograph(s) of "Woman Bathing" 

Curator: This ghostly image is an X-radiograph of Rembrandt's "Woman Bathing" housed here at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It looks like she's dissolving, a figure captured mid-metamorphosis, all swirling brushstrokes and implied form. Curator: The X-ray reveals the underpainting, the hidden layers beneath the surface we see. It's like peering into the artist's mind. Editor: Fascinating. You get to see how Rembrandt built her up, altered the composition, a secret history of the creative process. The vertical strokes add an interesting structure to the image. Curator: Exactly! It gives us insight into Rembrandt's technique, his process of layering and refining. A chance to witness the evolution of a masterpiece. Editor: It's oddly beautiful, this behind-the-scenes glimpse. It reminds me that art is not just the final product, but a journey of discovery. Curator: Indeed. And it reveals the hidden complexities within what appears, at first glance, to be a simple, intimate scene. Editor: And here we are, privy to the magical archaeology.