X-radiograph(s) of "Jacob van Dael" 

Curator: This is an X-radiograph of "Jacob van Dael," a portrait originally by Michiel Jansz. van Miereveld, now residing at the Harvard Art Museums. The film itself measures 14 by 17 inches. Editor: It’s ghostly, fragmented. The grid imposed upon the portrait gives it an almost clinical, deconstructed feel. Curator: Indeed. Think of the historical context: early radiological techniques intersecting with portraiture traditions. The subject, Van Dael, becomes almost secondary to the investigative gaze. Editor: The ruff, a symbol of status, is rendered as delicate swirls. What does that say about power, about identity when viewed through this scientific lens? Curator: Perhaps about the fragility of these constructs? An X-ray strips away the superficial, leaving a skeleton of societal markers. Editor: It’s a compelling intersection of art, science, and social commentary. A visual reminder of layers, both literal and metaphorical.