X-radiograph(s) of "Samson Berating His Father-in-Law" 

Curator: Looking at this X-radiograph reveals hidden stories of Jan Lievens' "Samson Berating His Father-in-Law" at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It's ghostly, isn't it? Like peering into the past, seeing layers of intention and revision through this monochrome veil. Curator: Precisely. Radiography allows us to see beneath the surface, revealing the artist’s process, like pentimenti or underdrawings, offering insight into the work's evolution. Editor: It makes me consider narratives of power and conflict, Samson's rage as a symbol of patriarchal entitlement, or perhaps resistance against familial expectations. Curator: Absolutely. Lievens, as an artist working within the Dutch Golden Age, navigated complex social and religious landscapes. The public display of such a work inevitably sparks dialogue. Editor: Which forces us to question—whose stories are amplified, whose are buried, even within the layers of paint itself? Curator: Indeed. Radiography reminds us of the unseen elements influencing our understanding of the past. Editor: This image urges us to confront the multifaceted history embedded within art, prompting a critical examination of representation.