Plate Number 140. Descending stairs, looking around and waving a fan 1887

Eadweard Muybridge's "Plate Number 140. Descending stairs, looking around and waving a fan" from 1887, is a photographic study of human motion. This series of 16 images captures a woman in a long dress as she walks down a set of stairs, showcasing the fluid, almost ethereal, movement of her body. This photo, along with other similar works, revolutionized our understanding of motion and paved the way for early cinema. These detailed observations of movement helped Muybridge become a pioneer in the field of photographic motion studies. This specific photo, "Plate Number 140," is a prime example of Muybridge's commitment to documenting the human form in motion, a technique known as chronophotography.