Plate Number 124. Descending an incline with a 20-lb. basket on head, hands raised 1887

This is Plate Number 124, "Descending an incline with a 20-lb. basket on head, hands raised," created by Eadweard Muybridge using photographic techniques. The image is made through a laborious process of capturing sequential photographs, printed on a large sheet, and displayed in a grid formation to investigate human locomotion. The stark aesthetic emphasizes the objectivity of the scientific endeavor, yet the staging and the model's nudity complicate this. Notice how the sequential frames capture the nuanced adjustments of posture, and the interplay between balance, gravity, and muscle power. The basket adds weight and resistance to the body in motion, altering balance. Muybridge isn't just documenting movement, but also echoing a long history of physically demanding, gendered labor. Ultimately, this work sits at the intersection of art, science, and social commentary, challenging the boundaries between disciplines and reminding us of the cultural narratives embedded in every image.