X-radiograph(s) of "Madonna and Child" 

Curator: This is an X-radiograph of "Madonna and Child," after Cima da Conegliano, held in the Harvard Art Museums collection. Editor: Well, immediately the texture grabs me—it's such a stark contrast to the smooth surfaces we usually associate with Renaissance painting. Curator: Indeed. The radiograph allows us to see beneath the surface, revealing the underpainting and the artist's process. Think of what this says about display and interpretation within museum culture! Editor: For me, the visible brushstrokes and layering create a beautiful abstract composition, almost divorced from the devotional subject matter it depicts. Curator: And yet, the subject is so important, shaping the art market, religious devotion, and power dynamics of the era. The image had a job to do. Editor: It does make you consider the layers of meaning embedded in a work of art. Curator: Precisely! Editor: Looking at this again, I see new layers in the image.