X-radiograph(s) of "Washington Allston" 

Curator: This X-radiograph reveals secrets of a portrait of "Washington Allston" by Chester Harding, currently held at the Harvard Art Museums. The penetrating gaze seems intensified, almost haunting, by this process. Editor: It's fascinating to see the painting stripped down to its skeletal structure, emphasizing the materiality beneath the surface. I wonder about the pigment choices Harding used and how they interact with X-rays. Curator: The X-ray unveils a hidden story, like uncovering a subconscious layer. Allston, a noted Romantic painter, is thus revealed as a layered representation of cultural memory. Editor: And the layers themselves—were changes made during the process? Was Harding satisfied with the initial rendering? These technical aspects are really a window into artistic intention. Curator: Indeed. The image reminds us that portraits aren't just likenesses; they carry psychological weight, a conversation between the artist, the sitter, and, now, us. Editor: It prompts us to consider the labor and techniques involved in creating and preserving such a work, making the invisible, visible through art.