X-radiograph(s) of "Madonna and Scenes from Life of Christ" 

Editor: This is an X-radiograph of "Madonna and Scenes from Life of Christ" by the School of Giotto di Bondone. Seeing it as an X-ray really emphasizes the materiality of the work. What can we learn from viewing this piece in this way? Curator: This image reveals the hidden processes of creation. We see the artist’s labor, the buildup of material, and the structural underpinnings. It makes us consider the economic conditions and workshop practices that shaped its making. Editor: So it's less about the final image and more about understanding the labor and resources involved? Curator: Exactly! This X-ray demystifies the aura of the artwork. It forces us to consider the artist not as a divinely inspired genius, but as a skilled laborer working within a specific material and economic context. Editor: That's a very different way of seeing art. I'll definitely be thinking about the unseen labor behind artworks from now on!