X-radiograph(s) of "Portrait of a Woman"

Curator: This is an X-radiograph of "Portrait of a Woman", by Justus Suttermans, held here at the Harvard Art Museums. It's certainly a stark image. Editor: Yes, almost ghostly. You see the underlying structure, the material truth beneath the surface. Curator: Precisely. Radiography allows us to look beyond the artist's hand to understand the materials: the canvas, the pigments, and the process of layering. Editor: It's fascinating how this process, originally meant for medical diagnostics, reveals so much about the life, or rather, the conservation history, of an artwork. Curator: Indeed. This image shows the painting's support, cracks, and repairs. It allows conservators to make informed decisions about its long-term preservation. Editor: It also speaks to the institution’s role, doesn't it? Museums aren't just repositories of art but active participants in their ongoing material existence. Curator: Very true. It provides a unique view into materiality. Editor: Makes you think about how much of art history is hidden from view.