Vierentwintig opnamen van een paard in draf met een wagen erachter before 1882

This collotype print shows twenty-four exposures of a horse in motion, taken by Eadweard Muybridge. The cultural context around it relates to the rise of photography as both a science and an art. Made in the United States, the image reflects the late 19th-century interest in capturing and understanding movement, driven by scientific inquiry and technological advancement. It was initially commissioned to settle a debate about whether all four hooves of a horse leave the ground simultaneously during a trot. The answer, captured here, was yes. But beyond its scientific value, the image underscores the social dynamics of its time, with photography emerging as a tool for documenting and analyzing the world. It also presages the development of cinema, forever changing how we perceive and represent motion. As art historians, we draw upon varied sources, from scientific publications to cultural histories, to fully grasp the context and impact of works like this one. This helps us understand not just the image, but the broader cultural and technological landscape that shaped its creation.