Jenny Tuckey Forehand Multiflash 1949

Editor: Harold Edgerton's "Jenny Tuckey Forehand Multiflash" captures a tennis swing as a sequence of moments. It's a very innovative way to think about time, but it also makes me wonder about the cultural fascination with capturing and controlling motion. What's your take on this work? Curator: It's interesting how Edgerton's work, initially developed for industrial and military applications, found its way into the art world. Think about the cultural context: The mid-20th century was obsessed with scientific progress. This piece highlights the public's fascination with technology and its potential to reveal the unseen. What does it suggest about the era's values? Editor: I see how it reflects the post-war optimism and the belief in scientific solutions. It makes me consider how the perception of technological advancement changed over time, from this initial optimism to more nuanced viewpoints. Curator: Precisely. It's a document of that optimism, but also a reminder of how quickly cultural attitudes can shift. The image itself becomes a historical artifact, reflecting not only the science but also the societal values of its time.