X-radiograph(s) of "The Blessed Damozel" Possibly 4 - 87

Curator: What an ethereal image. It's an X-radiograph of Dante Gabriel Rossetti's "The Blessed Damozel," residing here at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: Ethereal is right, it almost looks like a photographic negative. The swirling masses of form, the stark contrasts of light and dark—it’s quite striking, even without color. Curator: The X-ray reveals the under layers, the artist’s process of layering and reworking. We get a peek behind the final image, at Rossetti's labor. Editor: It's fascinating to see how these hidden layers contribute to the overall texture and depth of the composition. It allows us to deconstruct the finished image into its constituent parts. Curator: It's a reminder that artworks aren't just static objects, but the results of artistic labor and material manipulation. Editor: Indeed, it provokes questions about how materials shape our perception and understanding of art. Curator: This X-radiograph offers a unique material perspective on a well-known work. Editor: It certainly challenges our conventional understanding of the image, pushing us to consider it in a new light.