X-radiograph(s) of "Two Smockers" 

Curator: Here we have an X-radiograph of "Two Smockers," after Adriaen van Ostade, housed here at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: Stark. It’s fascinating to see the bones of the composition, the underpainting. It feels ghostly, like a faded memory. Curator: Indeed. The X-ray reveals much about Ostade’s process. The density differences likely relate to pigment choices, and perhaps underdrawing. Consider the labor involved in preparing the wooden support, the grinding of pigments... Editor: And the choices he made – or didn’t – in terms of iconography. What do these smockers represent? A certain class? A commentary on labour and toil? The image, even in this skeletal form, resonates with the visual tropes of its time. Curator: Precisely. The materiality informs the meaning. This peek beneath the surface really underscores the layers of creation, physically and conceptually. Editor: Absolutely. Seeing the underpinnings allows us to see the enduring power of symbols, even when stripped bare. Curator: A worthwhile look at how art is made, and how meaning is layered. Editor: A haunting reminder of art's enduring presence and cultural echoes.