Plate Number 173. Ascending steps and jumping off 1887

Editor: We're looking at "Plate Number 173. Ascending steps and jumping off," a gelatin silver print from 1887 by Eadweard Muybridge. It's a sequence of a woman in a dress going up some steps and then jumping off. I'm struck by the almost scientific, analytical feel of it. What can you tell me about this work? Curator: It's fascinating how Muybridge breaks down movement, isn't it? Consider this within the context of late 19th-century science and the growing obsession with capturing and understanding the world through technological means. The printing was commissioned for scientific study of movement, specifically the physiology of women. Editor: Physiology of women... so this work, seemingly objective, had an intended point of view? Curator: Precisely! Think about the public's fascination with the "new woman" at the time, and anxieties around women's bodies and capabilities. These images weren't just neutral recordings. Who got to define 'normal' or 'ideal' movement, and why? Who was studying her, and what power dynamic did that set up? This print offers so much social insight on the female body being under observation by a burgeoning and male dominated science. Editor: That adds a whole new layer to it! It's not just about capturing motion; it’s about the scientific gaze being applied to a woman’s body and potentially perpetuating those power structures. Curator: Absolutely. And that gaze exists even within today's popular consumption of his imagery, prompting discussion of it's use and ethics when viewing these photos as beautiful or ground-breaking. Understanding that relationship gives these images a new urgency. Editor: I see how understanding the context gives so much insight and allows you to think critically about who is creating and how the audience receives this work! Curator: It is indeed a lens to decode unspoken and intriguing elements about society, art, and power.