X-radiograph(s) of "Descent from the Cross" 

Curator: This is an X-radiograph of “Descent from the Cross,” originally by Adriaen van der Werff, held here at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It's like looking through time; a ghostly image. The stark contrast and skeletal visibility create an immediate sense of vulnerability. Curator: Indeed. X-radiography reveals layers invisible to the naked eye, showing us the artist’s process, the pentimenti, the changes in composition. Think of the hidden symbolism now brought to light. Editor: And the canvas itself! We're seeing the material support, the warp and weft, the very fabric upon which the scene unfolds. It underscores the labor involved, the physical act of creation. Curator: The Descent from the Cross is a potent symbol of sacrifice, grief, and redemption. This imaging technique almost enhances the emotional weight. Editor: It shifts the focus—instead of just the final image, we see the raw materials, the decisions, the physical reality behind the art. A window into artistic choices. Curator: It adds another dimension to our understanding. Editor: Precisely, revealing the construction of meaning, not just its surface.