Plate Number 182. Crawling on hands and knees 1887

This is “Plate Number 182. Crawling on hands and knees,” made by Eadweard Muybridge sometime in the late 19th century, using photographic processes. At first glance, this series of photographs may seem purely scientific. But consider the labor involved. Each image required the subject to strike a pose, and for Muybridge to meticulously capture and develop each photograph. Taken together, they offer a groundbreaking study of human movement. The materiality of photography itself is crucial here. Each gelatin silver print, carefully arranged on a large sheet, freezes a moment in time, yet invites us to perceive movement. The stark contrast and crisp details emphasize the human form, while the grid format underscores the clinical, almost industrial, nature of Muybridge's project. Ultimately, this work challenges our assumptions about art, science, and labor. Is it a study of human locomotion, or a commentary on the human body reduced to a series of data points? Perhaps it's both, reminding us that even the most scientific endeavors are shaped by human hands and social contexts.