Johannes Vermeer, Woman Holding a Balance (detail), c. 1664, National Gallery of Art, Widener CollectionInfrared light is used by conservators in the examination of paintings. It is able to penetrate varnish and paint layers and can reveal underdrawings and compositional changes that lie beneath a painting's surface. Infrared has a spectral range beyond that of visible light. Infrared images can be photographed (an infrared photograph) or recorded with a specially adapted video camera (an infrared reflectogram) 
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