X-radiograph(s) of "Girl in White" 

Curator: Here we have an X-radiograph of "Girl in White," originally attributed to Jacques-Louis David, held at the Harvard Art Museums. The image presents the painting's underlayers with a stark, ghostly quality. Editor: My initial reaction is that it is haunting, a visual echo of a portrait. The monochromatic palette emphasizes the fragile, almost skeletal structure beneath the surface. Curator: Indeed. The X-ray unveils David's process, the hidden architecture of his composition. We observe the stark contrast in densities, revealing areas of heavy pigment and preparatory sketches. Editor: This makes me consider issues of authenticity and artistic intention. How does our perception of "Girl in White" shift when we see this radiographic view, exposing the unseen labor and materials? It raises questions about the female subject as well. Curator: Quite so. It brings a new layer to the appreciation of artistic form and its making. Editor: It's fascinating how such a technical image can become a potent document about a woman, a process, and a moment.