Plate Number 126. Descending stairs 1887

Eadweard Muybridge's "Plate Number 126. Descending stairs" from 1887 is a striking example of his groundbreaking work in photographic motion studies. This photo-sequence, composed of twelve individual frames, captures the subtle movements of a man descending a staircase, a quintessential example of Muybridge's pioneering use of photography to analyze the human form in motion. The stark black and white composition, combined with the grid-like layout, creates a sense of scientific objectivity, epitomizing the era's fascination with scientific observation.