X-radiograph(s) of "Sketch for picture of Jupiter and Semele" 

Curator: This is an X-radiograph of Peter Paul Rubens' "Sketch for picture of Jupiter and Semele," housed at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It feels spectral, almost like a ghostly premonition. The black and white adds to the drama. Curator: Indeed, it offers a unique perspective. It’s fascinating to see the layers beneath what Rubens intended for our eyes. It reveals the creative process itself. Editor: Knowing the story of Semele, though, it's hard not to see this as a depiction of patriarchal power and its destructive force on the feminine. Jupiter’s love literally incinerates her. Curator: Yes, it's a potent reminder of classical myths' complex and often troubling themes. Editor: Precisely, and X-rays like this can unveil not only artistic techniques but also the cultural assumptions embedded within them. It adds a crucial layer of interpretation, doesn’t it? Curator: Absolutely. Viewing art through this lens, or, well, X-ray, brings a new dimension to these old tales.