X-radiograph(s) of "Magdalen (fragment)" 

Curator: This is an X-radiograph of "Magdalen (fragment)," originally by Segna di Bonaventura, currently housed at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It feels ghostly, doesn't it? Like an echo of a painting, a whisper of form emerging from the depths. Curator: Exactly. The X-radiograph shows us the underlayers, the hidden structure beneath the surface. It reveals the material choices of the artist, the type of wood panel, the application of gesso. Editor: It also hints at the unseen labor, the hands that prepared the panel, that carefully laid down each layer. It makes me think about the collaborative nature of art production, all the unseen contributors. Curator: Precisely. It challenges our notions of individual artistic genius, highlighting the social context of artmaking. Editor: I find that really moving. It's like art is a time capsule of the whole cultural moment, not just the artist's vision. Curator: I agree entirely. These insights help us see art as a product of both individual creativity and collective effort. Editor: Yes, and I'm left feeling that, even in fragment, the Magdalen carries the weight of so much more than just paint.