Plate Number 194. Dancing 1887

Eadweard Muybridge made this photographic print called "Plate Number 194. Dancing" in the late 19th century, a time of rapid technological and social change. Muybridge’s work emerged from a culture grappling with new ways of seeing and representing the world. The development of photography itself was revolutionary, challenging traditional modes of artistic expression. This image reflects the late 19th-century fascination with capturing and analyzing movement. Muybridge was commissioned to discover whether a horse ever lifts all four hooves off the ground simultaneously while trotting. Through a series of cameras triggered by tripwires, Muybridge proved that it does. Consider the social implications: a woman dancing, a subject deemed appropriate for photographic study and social commentary. Muybridge’s work raises important questions about the role of art in reflecting and shaping social norms. How do images like these reinforce or challenge existing power structures? To fully appreciate Muybridge’s work, we must consider the institutional context in which it was created. By studying these archives, we can gain deeper insights into the complex relationship between art, technology, and society in the late 19th century.