X-radiograph(s) of "Usurer" 

Curator: Today we’re examining an X-radiograph of "Usurer," originally by Gabriel Metsu, held in the Harvard Art Museums collection. Editor: It's fascinating how the monochrome tones and intersecting bands of opacity create a surprisingly austere composition, almost like a minimalist grid. Curator: Indeed, the X-ray reveals the canvas's structure, the underpainting and perhaps evidence of its creation. Notice how the darker spots might indicate areas of thicker pigment or alterations Metsu made. Editor: It really invites us to think about the physical layering of the artwork and the decisions involved in its making. Are those darker spots repairs, perhaps, or just denser applications of materials? Curator: Potentially. This radiograph prompts us to consider the artwork not just as a finished image but as an object with a material history. Editor: It’s a reminder that art isn't just about the final image, but the labor and materiality embedded within. Curator: Precisely. It alters our perception of the artistic process. Editor: It certainly does.