X-radiograph(s) of "Boy and Dog" 

Curator: Looking at this X-radiograph of "Boy and Dog," attributed to Jacques-Louis David, I'm struck by how ghostly and ephemeral it appears. It's like peering into the painting's soul. Editor: It's more like an art autopsy! But there's beauty even in this skeletal view. I'm seeing how the artist layered the paint, the thick impasto giving way to barely-there washes. Curator: Precisely! The X-ray reveals pentimenti, the artist's changes of mind, like hidden thoughts beneath the surface. And the dog, partially obscured, almost feels like a symbol of fidelity, loyalty... revealed only through this process. Editor: Or a forgotten friend, brought back to light. It reminds us that art isn't just about the finished product, but also the unseen process, the hidden struggles, and the stories embedded within. Curator: A beautiful way to put it. It makes me wonder what other secrets lie beneath the surface of the paintings we admire. Editor: And how technology lets us see beyond the obvious. Maybe someday we can X-ray our own souls.