X-radiograph(s) of "St. Agnes" 

Curator: Here we have an X-radiograph of "St. Agnes," attributed to Lucas Cranach the Elder, film size 8 x 10. It is held in the collection of the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: Initially, it looks like a haunting ghost obscured behind a strange grid. The texture is unsettling. Curator: Precisely. X-radiography allows us to peer beneath the surface, revealing hidden layers and the artist's process. It speaks to the modern drive to dissect and understand artistic creation through science. Editor: And what about the ethics of such deep dives? Does this analysis demystify the artistic aura? Does this violate the subject? Curator: It certainly raises questions about authenticity and the artist's original intent versus our contemporary interpretation. Editor: True, I do find it amazing how modern technology offers a peek into the past, raising interesting discussions about how we treat the legacy of art.