Plate Number 665. Ass; walking; bareback; a boy riding, Jennie 1887

Eadweard Muybridge made this photographic print of a boy riding a donkey in the late 19th century. The work's interest lies not in the subject alone, but in how its serial format intersects with institutional shifts in art and science. Muybridge was part of a broader movement using photography to dissect motion, driven by scientific curiosity, but also by the burgeoning entertainment industry. The linear grid arrangement of the image strips away narrative, prioritizing objective analysis. This approach mirrors the positivist spirit of the late 1800s, where observation and classification gained importance. However, the photographs raise ethical questions. Who was this boy? Was he paid? The image may also comment on social hierarchies, with the boy literally 'on top' of the animal. To understand Muybridge fully, historians consult not just art criticism, but scientific journals, early film history, and social records. Art, after all, is made in a specific time, and place, and understanding that context unlocks deeper meaning.