X-radiograph(s) of "Mrs. James Otis (d. 1767)" 

Curator: This is an X-radiograph of “Mrs. James Otis (d. 1767)” after John Singleton Copley. It gives us an insight into the construction of the original artwork. Editor: It has this ethereal quality, like a ghost of a portrait. But seeing the raw underlayers does demystify it a bit. Who was Mrs. Otis in the context of 18th-century society? Curator: She was part of the merchant class. X-rays reveal the techniques Copley may have used to build up the layers of paint and the materiality of his canvas. Editor: Her presence, even in X-ray, speaks volumes about the limited roles afforded to women and their historical visibility dependent on wealth and marriage. Curator: Indeed, imaging technology allows us to explore art's physical properties, revealing the stages of artistic labor. Editor: This image offers a dialogue, forcing us to question not just what we see, but also how it reflects on the realities of women in history. Curator: A dialogue facilitated by art and technology. Editor: Exactly, a fascinating synthesis.