Animal Locomotion. An Electro-Photographic Investigation of Consecutive Phases of Animal Movements. Commenced 1872 - Completed 1885. Volume II, Men (Nude) 1880s

Between 1872 and 1885, Eadweard Muybridge produced this compilation of photographs, titled *Animal Locomotion*, using electro-photographic techniques. These images, part of a broader study, capture the movements of nude men, offering a window into the late 19th-century scientific curiosity about the human body. Consider the cultural context: Muybridge worked in an era defined by emerging technologies and a burgeoning interest in the mechanics of motion. His studies weren't merely scientific; they were deeply entangled with prevailing social attitudes about the body, gender, and the idealization of physical form. Importantly, these photographs played a role in the development of early cinema and influenced artists interested in depicting movement. To fully understand Muybridge's work, historians consult a range of resources, from scientific publications to social commentaries of the time. This reminds us that artworks like *Animal Locomotion* are not made in a vacuum, but are products of, and contributors to, the social and institutional frameworks that shape our understanding of the world.