X-radiograph(s) of "Toilet of Bathsheba" 

Editor: So, this is an X-radiograph of Rembrandt's "Toilet of Bathsheba" from the Harvard Art Museums. It's eerie and fascinating to see beneath the surface. What can we learn by looking at this ghostly image? Curator: This radiograph allows us to deconstruct Rembrandt's process and, by extension, the power dynamics inherent in the depiction of Bathsheba. Editor: Power dynamics? Curator: Absolutely. Consider the male gaze, historically shaping narratives around women. The layers beneath the paint—revealed through this technology—might expose how Rembrandt himself wrestled with these established, often exploitative, tropes. What do you make of her pose here? Editor: It seems vulnerable, but maybe also defiant? Curator: Precisely. This tension, exposed by the radiograph, invites us to critically examine not just Rembrandt's choices but the entire history of representing female subjects. Editor: I never thought about it that way before. It's like the X-ray reveals more than just paint; it reveals a conversation. Curator: Exactly, it's about unearthing those conversations, challenging dominant narratives, and imagining alternative perspectives.