Plate Number 157. Jumping, running twist high jump 1887

This photographic study, "Plate Number 157. Jumping, running twist high jump," was made by Eadweard Muybridge using the collotype process. This was a method of printing photographs that allowed for a greater range of tones, and a larger number of prints, than earlier techniques. The collotype process involved coating a glass plate with a light-sensitive gelatin emulsion, then exposing it to a negative. The gelatin hardened in proportion to the amount of light it received, creating a printing surface with varying textures. Ink was then applied, adhering differently to the various textures, and the image transferred to paper. Think of Muybridge, in his darkroom, carefully preparing the plates, timing the exposures, and controlling the chemical reactions that made the images appear. His commitment to process, with an eye for detail and a deep understanding of the materials, enabled him to capture moments that were previously invisible to the human eye, changing our understanding of motion and representation. This work asks us to reconsider the relationship between art, science, labor, and the rapidly changing world of the late 19th century.