X-radiograph(s) of "The Rehearsal" Possibly 19 - 76

Curator: This is an X-radiograph of "The Rehearsal," after Hilaire-Germain-Edgar Degas, now residing at the Harvard Art Museums. It appears quite ghostly. Editor: It's fascinating to see a painting revealed in this way, almost like an archaeological dig. The different layers seem to suggest a palimpsest of images. Curator: Indeed, X-radiography lets us peer beneath the surface. It reveals hidden elements, artistic processes, and the evolution of the work itself. Editor: Thinking about the materials, we can see the density of the paint and how it interacts with the linen canvas beneath it. It speaks to Degas' working methods. Curator: And on another level, the image takes on a deeper symbolic weight. It reflects the fragility and impermanence of beauty—like a fleeting memory. Editor: It’s interesting how a technical process like this can actually enrich our understanding of the painting's history, materials, and meaning. Curator: Absolutely, it allows us to appreciate the hidden depths, to see beyond the immediate image. Editor: Right, it gives us a fuller appreciation of the physical artwork and its own process of becoming.