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

Editor: This is an X-radiograph of "Portrait of a Lady" potentially by Sir Joshua Reynolds. It's fascinating to see beneath the surface, almost like an archaeological dig. What does an image like this tell us about the history of the artwork and its creation? Curator: This radiographic view unveils the painting's material existence and process. It reveals the physical supports, pentimenti, and areas of damage and repair. Think of the layers of social and economic context embedded in each artist's decision and the museum's ongoing preservation. Editor: So it shows both the artist's hand and the institution's? Curator: Precisely. The X-radiograph speaks to the public role of art, it is an image that highlights both the production and the maintenance and the way art objects exist across time. What does seeing it this way evoke for you? Editor: It makes me think about art's continued life, and how many hands and decisions shape what we see today. Curator: Exactly, the image becomes a historical document about the life of a painting.