X-radiograph(s) of "A Thistle" 

Editor: This is an X-radiograph of "A Thistle," by Roelant Roghman. It seems to reveal the underlying structure and process, stripping away the surface image. What can this X-ray tell us about the making of the work? Curator: The materiality here is key. We see the wood grain, the layers of paint, the very physical process of creation. Consider the labor involved in preparing the panel, grinding pigments, and applying paint. How does this change our understanding of Roghman's artistic intentions? Editor: So, it's less about the thistle itself and more about the act of its creation and the resources that make it possible? Curator: Exactly. The X-ray exposes the artist's hand, the support structure, the material realities that underpin the image we see. It shifts our focus from representation to production. What does it mean to "see" a painting this way? Editor: It really reframes how we value art, focusing on the physical and economic realities behind it. Curator: Precisely.