X-radiograph(s) of "Etude d'Italie" Possibly 15 - 54

Curator: Here we have an X-radiograph of "Etude d'Italie" by Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot, preserved at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It's strikingly abstract, a grid both obscuring and revealing what lies beneath. There's a strange tension. Curator: The composition, yes, is dictated by that grid—a series of squares creating a structured view into the painting's layers. Note how some squares are denser, revealing underlying forms. Editor: Almost like palimpsests. Symbols buried and resurfacing. Is this artist trying to send a message? Curator: Perhaps. Or maybe the X-ray simply reveals the artist's process, the materiality of the paint and canvas itself. Editor: It's a fascinating glimpse behind the surface, into the history of the artwork and the artist's creation. Curator: Indeed, it provides a unique perspective on Corot's work, one that transcends mere representation.