Man Punching Bag n.d.

Curator: This is Harold Edgerton's "Man Punching Bag," currently housed here at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: The monochrome gives it such a timeless, almost haunting feel, doesn't it? Like a scene from a forgotten era of smoky gyms. Curator: Indeed. Edgerton’s pioneering use of stroboscopic flash allows us to dissect the mechanics of the punch with unprecedented clarity. The light reveals form and motion, a study of kinetics. Editor: It's more than just mechanics, though. Look at the focused intensity on the boxer's face, the flexing muscles. It’s a portrait of human determination, distilled to its essence. Curator: A fair point. The composition leads the eye from the rigid form of the bag to the determined gaze of the athlete, a duality of object and will. Editor: Ultimately, it's a stark, beautiful image that lingers in the mind long after you've moved on. Curator: I concur. Edgerton has created a work that transcends the boundaries of sport and science.