Plate Number 153. Jumping, running straight high jump 1887

Plate Number 153. Jumping, running straight high jump, by Eadweard Muybridge captures a series of movements through chronophotography. In the late 19th century, Muybridge sought to dissect motion, driven by both scientific curiosity and perhaps a desire to exert control over the unruly, unfixed world. This work reflects the Victorian era's fascination with categorizing and understanding the human body. The photographs also reveal a gendered and racialized dimension, as Muybridge frequently photographed nude or semi-nude male bodies, often athletes, reinforcing notions of white, male physical prowess. The depiction of the male body is laid bare for study, as both a symbol of power, and a body to be disciplined. The work invites us to reflect on how bodies are historically placed under surveillance, studied, and often judged, in order to either maintain traditional norms or develop alternative narratives. It captures an enduring quest to comprehend and control the human form, which reflects societal ideals and power dynamics.