X-radiograph(s) of "Dr. Zelle" 

Curator: This is an X-radiograph of "Dr. Zelle," a portrait originally by Bernard van Orley. Isn’t it fascinating to see beneath the surface like this? Editor: I'll say. It gives me a spooky, ghostly feeling, like peering into someone's soul... or a forgotten memory. Curator: It's a potent reminder that artworks, like people, have hidden depths and histories. The layers of paint, the artist's process, even later restorations. Editor: It makes you wonder about what’s deliberately concealed, both in the painting and the subject. Is there an intention to hide something, to create a specific narrative? Curator: Absolutely. This x-ray prompts us to consider the original artist's choices within the social and political context of their time. What stories were being told—and what were being suppressed? Editor: I like how it turns something familiar into something strange and new. Curator: Precisely. It encourages us to question our perceptions. Editor: It also invites us to imagine the story that lies behind the layers.