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

Curator: Here we have an X-radiograph of "Madonna and Child," attributed to Dieric Bouts, from the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It’s like seeing a ghost hold another ghost. The starkness of the X-ray pulls away all pretense and leaves us with the bare bones of the image. Curator: Exactly. The X-radiograph allows us to study the underdrawings and any alterations made during the painting process, revealing much about workshop practices. Editor: It makes me think about the layers we don't see in a finished work, the hidden history and labor. Kind of like peeling back time itself. Curator: Indeed, and this Madonna and Child motif, so prevalent in art history, takes on a new dimension when viewed through the lens of scientific analysis. Editor: I like how it demystifies the creative process while somehow making it even more profound. You see the intent laid bare.