Plate Number 320. Lifting a 50-lb. dumbbell 1887

This is Plate Number 320, titled 'Lifting a 50-lb. dumbbell,' by Eadweard Muybridge. It is a photograph, printed on a sheet. Muybridge's work is fascinating because it freezes motion, turning actions into a series of discrete images. In this piece, the material reality of photography is key. Each frame captures a moment, and together, they reveal the labor and effort of lifting a heavy weight. Think about what it took to make this image. The subject's physical exertion is mirrored by Muybridge's own labor to set up the camera, time the exposures, and develop the prints. It speaks to the Victorian era’s obsession with cataloging and understanding the physical world. The image asks us to consider the relationship between human action, the mechanics of photography, and the social context of the late 19th century. It challenges us to see beyond the surface, recognizing that the medium is the message.