Curator: This is an X-radiograph of "Portrait of Mrs. Waldo," originally by Joseph Badger, held here at the Harvard Art Museums. Doesn't it look spectral? Like peering into a memory. Editor: Haunting, yes, like a ghost in the machine. It makes you consider the layers, both physical and metaphorical, that make up a portrait and a person's identity. What does it reveal about artistic practices of the time? Curator: Well, X-rays allow us to see beneath the surface, to examine underdrawings and pentimenti, changes the artist made. It’s as if we're excavating the creative process, the evolution of an image. Editor: And more broadly, the role of museums in both preserving and investigating these cultural artifacts. It raises questions about authenticity and the artist's hand. Curator: Absolutely. It's a reminder that art is never static; it's a dynamic dialogue between past and present. Editor: Precisely, and perhaps a gentle nudge to question what truly makes an image, an icon, or even an idea… timeless.