X-radiograph(s) of "Portrait of Rockox" 

Editor: Here we have an X-radiograph of "Portrait of Rockox" by Abraham van Diepenbeeck. It's fascinating to see the inner structure of the painting revealed. What insights can we glean from examining the materials and process this way? Curator: This radiograph allows us to see the artist's hand, quite literally! We can investigate the layers of paint, the ground preparation, and potentially identify pigments used based on their density. Consider how this scientific analysis informs our understanding of artistic labor and the value placed on materials. It also challenges notions of the artist's singular genius, showing artmaking as a collaborative, material-dependent process. Editor: That's incredible, seeing artmaking as a collaborative process between the artist and material! Curator: Indeed! By focusing on the material reality of the artwork, we gain a richer understanding of its creation and its place within a specific economic and social context.