X-radiograph(s) of "Mrs. Cunningham (Anne Boucher)" 

Editor: This is an X-radiograph of "Mrs. Cunningham (Anne Boucher)," attributed to John Smibert. The ghostly image reveals the painting's structure. What does this reveal about art production for you? Curator: This X-radiograph shows the labor inherent in creating the portrait. The canvas weave, the density of the pigments, and any underdrawing reveal the processes and materials involved. It collapses the distinction between "high art" and the craft of painting, focusing on the materiality and means of production. Editor: So, beyond just seeing the image, we are seeing the making of the image? Curator: Exactly. The X-ray unveils the physicality of art, inviting us to consider the social context and labor embedded within the painting. Editor: That's fascinating; I'll never look at a painting the same way again.