Plate Number 61. Running at full speed 1887

Eadweard Muybridge created this photographic sequence, "Plate Number 61. Running at full speed," using a series of cameras to capture motion. The composition is divided into a grid of frames, each freezing a moment in the runner's stride. Notice how Muybridge meticulously dissects movement into discrete units, challenging our perception of continuous action. The stark contrast between the figure and the background emphasizes the lines and shapes formed by the body in motion. The grid structure, reminiscent of early scientific documentation, imposes a sense of order onto the fluid dynamics of the runner. This work reflects the late 19th-century fascination with scientific observation. Muybridge's photographic method disrupts traditional representations of the human body, presenting it as a series of fragmented, yet interconnected, moments. This challenges fixed notions of time and space. The sequential form underscores a transition from static representation to a dynamic exploration of visual perception and analysis.