X-radiograph(s) of "Madonna and Child" 

Curator: Here we have an X-radiograph of "Madonna and Child," originally from the Workshop of Antonio Vivarini. The piece resides at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It looks like a ghostly blueprint, almost as if the divine figures are trapped within a grid. Curator: Indeed. The grid provides insight into the painting's structure. It's fascinating to consider the Madonna's historical role as an idealized figure, her representation here laid bare by technology. Editor: I'm struck by how the X-ray medium flattens the composition, emphasizing the contrast between light and shadow. Curator: It invites a dialogue about the layers of meaning and cultural significance embedded within this iconic subject matter. Editor: A unique perspective, revealing not just what we see, but what lies beneath. Curator: It's a way of understanding power structures, who gets to be seen, and how we interpret representation.