X-radiograph(s) of "James Otis" 

Editor: This is an X-radiograph of the painting "James Otis" by Joseph Blackburn. It's fascinating to see beneath the surface, almost like an anatomical study. What secrets do you think this view reveals? Curator: Ah, the unseen layers! It’s like peeling back time itself. Notice how the X-ray unveils the artist's process – pentimenti, changes in composition, perhaps even a glimpse of an earlier portrait underneath. It's a conversation between artist and canvas, a hidden dialogue now made visible. What does it make you think about in terms of artistic intent? Editor: I never considered the idea of a painting having its own history beneath the surface. Curator: Exactly! Each layer tells a story, a whisper from the past. Editor: It’s like the painting is keeping a secret.