Plate Number 358. Lying on back and firing 1887

Eadweard Muybridge made this photographic plate of a man lying on his back and firing a rifle as part of his study of human locomotion. This series was commissioned in the late 1870s by Leland Stanford, the governor of California, to analyze the gaits of horses, but it quickly grew to encompass a broad range of human and animal movements. In the context of its time, Muybridge's work responded to a growing interest in scientific observation and documentation. The serial photographs broke down movement into discrete fractions, providing a new way to study the mechanics of the human body. Moreover, they laid the groundwork for the development of cinema and revolutionized visual culture. By freezing and dissecting motion, Muybridge challenged traditional modes of representation and opened up new possibilities for understanding the world through images. Art historians and cultural theorists continue to examine Muybridge's work through different lenses to understand the relationship between art, science, and society in the late 19th century.