X-radiograph(s) of "St. Theresa Praying before Christ" 

Curator: This is an X-radiograph of "St. Theresa Praying before Christ" by Peter Paul Rubens. It's like looking at the soul of the painting, isn't it? Editor: It's certainly spectral. Beyond the figures, I'm drawn to this grid. It's so assertive—almost like a material barrier between us and Rubens's vision. Curator: The grid reveals the hidden layers, the artist's process. Imagine Rubens, layering paint, building forms...it's like a conversation with the divine through material. Editor: Exactly. The X-ray exposes the materiality of the painting: the lead white Rubens used, how it blocks the X-rays. This technology gives us access to secrets, labor, and artistic choices. Curator: It also changes our experience. Instead of aesthetic beauty, we contemplate the artist's hand, the alchemy of creation. It strips away the pretense and brings us closer to the act of making. Editor: In a way, it democratizes the artwork by emphasizing the tangible aspects over the untouchable concept of genius. I leave feeling more connected to art production overall. Curator: Yes, it's about seeing beyond the surface, literally and figuratively. We get to experience the artwork's bones.