X-radiograph(s) of "Mary Smibert" 

Curator: This is an X-radiograph of "Mary Smibert," attributed to John Smibert, part of the Harvard Art Museums collection. The film itself measures 14 x 17. Editor: It's eerie, almost ghostly, the way the X-ray reveals the unseen layers beneath the surface. You can make out the woman’s face but it's obscured. Curator: Yes, X-radiography provides crucial information about artistic processes and materials used—changes, underdrawings, and the painting's overall structure. What does it tell us about gender and identity? Are we meant to see through Mary, or see how Smibert constructed her image? Editor: I think it shows how portraits, particularly of women, can be both revealing and concealing, acting as constructed facades of identity—perhaps a lens to examine 18th-century societal expectations. Curator: Absolutely. Thinking about the politics of imagery, it highlights how museums preserve and analyze these portraits, shaping their meaning for us today. Editor: Reflecting on this piece, I'm struck by its capacity to reveal hidden histories. Curator: Indeed, it encourages us to question the narratives we inherit.