X-radiograph(s) of "Bellona" Possibly 15 - 64

Curator: This haunting image is an X-radiograph of "Bellona," after Jacob Adriaensz. Backer, currently residing at the Harvard Art Museums. It’s a film, about 14 x 17 inches in size. Editor: It gives off this eerie feeling, like peering into the soul of a painting. The monochromatic palette enhances the ethereal quality, doesn’t it? Curator: Absolutely. Radiography strips away the surface, revealing the underlayers and artistic process. Seeing Bellona like this brings up interesting questions about representation of women in power. Editor: The helmet, usually a symbol of authority, appears almost fragile here, and her expression seems almost melancholic instead of assertive. It challenges the typical narrative. Curator: It does, doesn't it? Makes you wonder about the artist's intentions, and how time and technology reshape our understanding of art and power. Editor: Indeed. It's a potent reminder that even in images of strength, vulnerability and complexity persist.