X-rays

• Science
• Lower Secondary (Key Stage 3)

Introduction

Masterminds & Masterpieces – An interactive lesson in which students discover how conservators use x-rays to study paintings by Vincent van Gogh. The lesson is suitable for independent study, or whole-class teaching.

Instructions

General learning objectives

• Students learn what x-rays are
• Students get to know Vincent van Gogh;
• Students see how a conservator uses x-rays to examine paintings

A curious and inquiring mind is vital for the preservation and conservation of art, and for science and technology in general. This lesson, part of the Masterminds & Masterpieces series, uses the interdisciplinary benefits of inquiry-based learning (experimentation, testing, looking, comparing etc.). Masterminds & Masterpieces is a collaborative project of the Van Gogh Museum and ASML.

Link to curriculum

- This lessons ties in with the subjects physics and science.

Equipment

n.a.

Variation

- This lesson can be combined with the lessons on UV – Van Gogh’s enemy/friend, and with the lesson on infrared radiation.

X-rays in the study of Van Gogh’s paintings.

X-rays 

What are you going to learn during this lesson?

During this lesson you will learn what x-rays are, what a conservator-restorer does, what layers you can find in a painting, and who Vincent van Gogh was. You will then learn how conservators use x-rays to examine a painting.

What’s happening here?

Conservator-restorer Oda is looking at x-rays of Vincent’s painting Horse Chestnut Tree in Blossom.

What does this person’s job involve?

This person is a conservator-restorer. She examines and takes care of old objects, and repairs any damage. Here, she is working on a painting by Vincent.

One of the jobs of a museum is to study its collection and keep it in good condition for the future. Conservators play an important role in this. 

Who was Vincent van Gogh?

Vincent van Gogh

- lived from 1853 to 1890;

- grew up in the Netherlands;

- lived in four countries (Netherlands, Britain, Belgium and France);

- decided to be an artist when he was 27

- made almost 900 paintings, over 1000 drawings and wrote hundreds of letters

- was not famous during his life

- is now a very famous painter

What are x-rays?

X-rays are electromagnetic radiation that are on the electromagnetic spectrum. You can’t see x-rays with the naked eye. X-rays allow you to see through some materials, like skin, but not through others, like bone.

X-rays are ionising radiation, which contains a lot of energy. It can be used to set chemical reactions going. If the substance being irradiated is living tissue, there is a chance that the DNA will be damaged. That is why people may only be exposed to x-rays for a fraction of a second.

So x-rays are used at the museum to examine Vincent’s paintings. Watch the video on the next slide to see how, then answer the questions. 

How can an x-ray help a conservator-restorer examine a painting?

1. To see how the layers of paint are built up
2. To discover underpaintings
3. To reveal cracks and holes in the paint
4. To find out more about the composition of the paint

 Drag the images to the right categories

Easily penetrated by x-rays.

Not easily penetrated by x-rays.

Lead

Skin

Bone

Mercury

Canvas

What do the spots with the circles round them tell us?

What makes it difficult to read an x-ray of a painting?

1. The colours are completely different than in real life.
2. The nails stop you from seeing the painting properly.
3. You see all layers of the painting in one image.

Did you know..

.. that a storm not only creates visible light, but also x-rays and gamma radiation?

.. that x-rays are used in industry to check for mistakes in welds?

 .. that x-rays are also used to check luggage?

Now you’ve completed this lesson you know:

• what X-ray is
• who Vincent van Gogh was
• how conservators used x-rays in their work
• that paintings are built up of several layers
• how you can discover underdrawings using x-rays