X-radiograph(s) of "Countesse de Selve" 

Curator: This is an X-radiograph of "Countesse de Selve," after the original by Adélaïde Labille-Guiard, and it is currently located at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: Well, my first impression is that it's surprisingly beautiful. It almost looks like a woven textile, a ghostly shroud. Curator: Exactly! The process itself reveals so much about the underpainting and the materials used. We can see the canvas weave so clearly. Editor: I'm struck by the idea of looking beneath the surface, both literally with the X-ray, and figuratively, perhaps revealing hidden aspects of the Countess's identity and social standing. Curator: And consider the labor involved—not just in the original painting but in the scientific analysis that brings this image to light. Editor: It reframes our understanding of portraiture, doesn't it? From a representation to a material and social artifact. Curator: It makes you think about art and the processes by which it is made and examined over time. Editor: Absolutely. It’s a testament to how art can be a site of ongoing investigation and reinterpretation.