Untitled (man adjusting x-ray head over woman lying down inside medical trailer) 1961

Editor: This photograph by Martin Schweig shows a man adjusting an x-ray machine over a woman. It's striking how clinical and unsettling the image feels. What societal anxieties about science and medicine might it reflect? Curator: Well, consider the rise of medical technology in the 20th century. X-rays, while beneficial, also represented an invisible, potentially dangerous force. How might this image play into public perceptions of medical authority and control during its time? Editor: It makes me think about the power dynamic between doctor and patient. The woman is vulnerable, lying down, while the man is active and in control. Curator: Exactly. And how does the photographic medium itself, with its own history of surveillance and documentation, contribute to that sense of power? Editor: I hadn’t thought about the photography itself adding to that sense of unease. Thanks, that’s really helpful! Curator: My pleasure!