X-radiograph(s) of "Mourning Magdalen (copy ?)" 

Editor: This is an X-radiograph of "Mourning Magdalen (copy ?)" after Anthony van Dyck. The image is haunting, almost ghostly. What can we learn by looking beneath the surface like this? Curator: Absolutely. Consider the performative aspects of mourning, particularly for women in the 17th century. How does this hidden view challenge or reinforce societal expectations around grief and female representation? What power dynamics are at play? Editor: So, seeing the underpainting could reveal something about the original artist's intent or the copyist's interpretation of feminine sorrow? Curator: Precisely. It prompts us to question the narratives constructed around female suffering and the gaze that perpetuates them. Editor: That gives me a lot to think about, especially considering the context of the original painting and its reception. Thank you! Curator: My pleasure! It is crucial to remember the art world's social responsibilities, as well as its possibilities.