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What can infrared reveal beneath a painting?

A finished painting can conceal decisions made before its visible surface took shape. Infrared imaging sometimes reveals earlier marks, but what appears depends on how the different materials interact with the light.

4–5 min

Questions you could explore

  • Why do some hidden marks appear while others remain invisible?
  • What can an underdrawing reveal about a painting's development?

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Arts and culture

How does a flat drawing make a corridor look deep?

Lines drawn on a flat page can suggest a hallway extending into the distance. In one-point perspective, receding edges relate to a vanishing point and a horizon, linking the drawing to a particular viewpoint.

3–5 min

How does a flat drawing make a corridor look deep?

Arts and culture3–5 minLines drawn on a flat page can suggest a hallway extending into the distance. In one-point perspective, receding edges relate to a vanishing point and a horizon, linking the drawing to a particular viewpoint.

Can a tradition be heritage without a building to preserve?

Arts and culture3–5 minA song, a craft skill, or a shared practice can be passed on without being fixed in stone. Intangible cultural heritage places importance on living knowledge and the communities that recognize and transmit it.

How can a motionless object become an animated character?

Arts and culture5–7 minA stop-motion character need not move while the camera is recording. Small changes between photographs create a sequence that suggests movement when played back.

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