X-radiograph(s) of "The Old Geographer" 

Curator: Here we have an X-radiograph of "The Old Geographer," a painting attributed to Karel van der Pluym, currently residing at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It's an eerie, almost ghostly image. The skeletal structure beneath the paint layers gives it a strange vulnerability. Curator: Indeed. This radiograph offers us insight into the artist's process, the underlying structure of the painting itself, and perhaps even earlier compositions. Think of its value in authenticating artwork and tracking its preservation. Editor: Beyond the technical aspects, the image of the geographer peering out from within the wood grain is compelling. He's still present, even if unseen. Curator: That unseen presence, made visible through technology, speaks to the enduring power of images within our culture. Editor: Precisely, it reminds us that every layer holds meaning, and sometimes the hidden ones resonate most profoundly.