X-radiograph(s) of "Fall of the Rebel Angels" 

Editor: This is an X-radiograph of Pieter Bruegel the Elder's "Fall of the Rebel Angels." It reveals layers beneath the visible surface. What can we learn about artistic process and materials by looking at this image? Curator: It compels us to consider the labor involved, the specific pigments and binding agents used, and how Bruegel constructed the painting. The X-ray reveals the underpainting, the artist’s initial compositional decisions. Editor: It’s like seeing the artist's hand at work. Curator: Precisely. We see the materiality, the physical presence of the paint itself, defying the illusionistic effect of the final image. Examining this provides critical insight into the cultural value of the materials. Editor: That makes me think differently about the entire history of the painting. Thanks! Curator: My pleasure. It sheds light on the social context of art production, too.