X-radiograph(s) of "Portrait of a Lady" 

Curator: This is an X-radiograph of "Portrait of a Lady," originally attributed to Ludger Tom Ring the Younger. Editor: It's ghostly. You can almost feel the historical weight of the subject, and the layers beneath the surface come alive. Curator: Indeed, the X-ray reveals what's hidden. Note the diamond shape in the top left; its symbolism is related to the woman’s family history and heraldry. Editor: But the fact that we only see it through an X-ray… it speaks volumes about the obscured roles and identities of women in that era, doesn't it? Curator: Perhaps. Or maybe it’s an intentional encoding of status, a hidden language only the initiated would understand. Editor: It’s a reminder that portraits are never just representations, but strategic constructions designed to navigate patriarchal structures and reinforce social hierarchies. Curator: Looking at it now, I wonder if the artist ever thought their work would be seen this way. Editor: It certainly offers a unique, even uncomfortable, perspective on portraiture and the woman it depicts. It makes you reconsider the very act of seeing.