X-radiograph(s) of "Mrs. John Bours" 

Curator: This is an X-radiograph of "Mrs. John Bours," originally painted by Joseph Blackburn, and it’s fascinating to see beneath the surface like this. Editor: Yes, it’s quite ghostly! The texture of the canvas is so pronounced. It really emphasizes the material objecthood of the artwork itself. Curator: It makes you consider what other layers of meaning or processes are hidden within artworks, doesn’t it? The X-ray reveals not just the painting's composition, but also the artist's working method. Editor: Exactly! You start to think about the labor involved, the physical creation... It challenges this idea of the artwork as something purely aesthetic or representational. What about the institution's role here? Curator: It highlights how museums use technology to understand and preserve art, making visible what was once invisible. It's a whole new way of engaging with art history. Editor: Definitely, and for me, it prompts questions about access: who gets to see this hidden layer, and how does that change their relationship with the artwork? Curator: It's certainly altered my perspective. I see the painting differently now. Editor: And I’m now more curious about the consumption of it and its implications. Fascinating!