X-radiograph(s) of "Adoration of the Magi" 

Editor: This is an X-radiograph of Titian's "Adoration of the Magi" from the Harvard Art Museums. It’s… unexpectedly abstract. It seems to focus less on the image, and more on the canvas. What insights can we glean from this alternative perspective? Curator: The radiography reveals the painting’s support and underlayers, highlighting the physical processes of its creation. We can see the artist’s labor, the choices made and reworked. The materiality demystifies the image itself, no? Editor: Absolutely. I’m struck by how this reveals the tangible effort behind a masterpiece. Curator: Indeed, it emphasizes the materials, labor and production often hidden beneath the surface of art history. This recontextualizes our understanding of artistic creation. Editor: I hadn't considered that. Thanks for pointing that out. Curator: My pleasure.