X-radiograph(s) of "A Christman Carol" Possibly 11 - 93

Editor: This is an x-radiograph of Dante Gabriel Rossetti's "A Christmas Carol," held at the Harvard Art Museums. It’s fascinating to see the ghostly traces beneath the surface. What can we learn from this process-oriented view? Curator: The X-radiograph foregrounds the labor involved, stripping away the illusion. Notice how the composition reveals the materiality; it's not just about the image anymore, but the physicality of the painting itself, the layers of paint, the support structure. How does this change your understanding of Rossetti's artistic practice, seeing the constructed nature of the work? Editor: It makes me think about the choices, revisions, and the sheer effort involved, far beyond the finished aesthetic. Thanks! Curator: Indeed. It challenges the romanticized view of the artist and brings us closer to the material reality of art production.