Eadweard Muybridge

MALE AND FEMALE

FIGURE IN MOTION

"iiunuii.

60 Classic Photographic Sequences

76
 SAUSALITO PUBLIC LIBRARY
Sausalito Public Library I I

420 Litho St.

Sausalito, CA 94965 3 1 1 01844 2770
(415) 289-4121

DATE DUE

THEh APR 1 2 2001 :male

2QG/
FIGX [ON
1

60

EAD\ DGE

DEMCO, INC. 38-2931

DOVER PUBLICATIONS, INC.

NEW YORK

SausalitD, CaJiiorria 94965

 Copyright <g 1984 by Dover Publications, Inc.
All rights reserved under Pan American and International Copyright Conventions.

Published in Canada by General Publishing Company, Ltd., 30 Lesmill Road, Don

Mills, Toronto, Ontario.
Published in the United Kingdom by Constable and Company, Ltd., 3 The
Lanchesters, 162-164 Fulham Palace Road, London \\'6 9ER.

This Dover edition, first published in 1984, is a selection of 60 sequences from the
eleven-volume workAnimal Locomotion: an electro-photographic investigation of consecu-
tive phases of animal movements, originally published under the auspices of the
University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, in 1887. A publisher's note, captions and
list of plates have been prepared especiallv for this edition. The publisher's note
draws heavily upon Anita Ventura Mozley's introduction to the Dover edition of the
complete work, entitled Muybridge's Complete Human and Animal Locomotion (three
vols.: 23792-3; 23793-1; 23794-X).

dover ^TiEtorialoArcbive series

This book belongs to the Dover Pictorial Archive Series. You may use the designs
and illustrations tor graphics and crafts applications, free and without special permis-
sion, provided that you include no more than ten in the same publication or project.
(For permission for additional use, please write to Dover Publications, Inc., 31 East
2nd Street, Mineola, N.V. 11501.)
However, republication or reproduction of anv illustration by any other graphic
service, whether it be in a book or in any other design resource, is strictly prohibited.

Manufactured in the United States of America

Dover Publications, Inc., 31 East 2nd Street, Mineola, N.Y. 11501

Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data

Muybridge, Eadweard, 1830-1904.

The male and female figure in motion.

1. Human locomotion — Pictorial works. I. Title.

QP301.M86 1984 612'. 76 84-6060
ISBN 0-486-24745-7
 Publisher's Note

Edward James Muggeridge was born on April 9, 1830 in Ernest Meissonier held a glittering reception for him in Paris.

Kingston-upon-Thames, England. He made several altera- Initially, Muybridge met with similar acclaim when he went
tions to his name, finally settling on Eadweard Muybridge. to England, counting among his audiences Gladstone, Ten-
He emigrated to the United States and in the 1850s estab- nyson, Huxley and the Prince and Princess of Wales.
lished himself in the book trade in San Francisco. In 1860 he On his return to the United States in 1882, Muybridge
sustained a serious head injury in a stagecoach accident; continued to lecture, but also turned his attention toward
some think this contributed to his eccentric nature. Recover- organizing a project to further his investigations into locomo-
ing in England, he was introduced to the art of photography, tionby photographing men, women, children and animals,
in which he soon became completely absorbed. using a setup much like the one he had developed with
Muybridge returned to San Francisco in 1867 and quickly Stanford. Unable to finance the project himself, he finally
established himself as a leading photographer by producing a arranged for it to be done under the auspices of the Univer-
spectacular series of views of the Yosemite Valley. The sity of Pennsylvania. In return for the facilities provided,
government recognized his abilities; in 1868 he accompanied Muybridge agreed work under the supervision of members
to
an expedition to examine the newly acquired Alaskan territo- of the university representing the worlds of science and art,
ries. He also produced views of the lighthouses on the Pacific including the great painter Thomas Eakins.
Coast for the United States Lighthouse Board. Work began in 1884; the last series that was included in the

Leland Stanford, a former governor of California and the final work was photographed on October 28, 1885. The
president of the Central Pacific Railroad, took note of the university published Animal Locomotion; an electro-photo-
photographer in 1872and decided that he was the man to graphic investigation of consecutive phases of animal move-
help him find the solution to a vexing problem. Stanford ments in eleven volumes in 1887. Subscribers paying $100
bred horses and raced trotters. He held (correctly, but with- were entitled to order 100 plates from the total of 781. To
out proof) that, at some point during a fast trot, a horse will drum up business, Muybridge continued his lecture tours in
have all four legs off the ground simultaneously. Stanford the United States and Europe. In the end, close to 450 copies
turned to Muybridge to provide photographic evidence to were sold.
support his supposition. Muybridge was intrigued by the After running an exhibition of the zoopraxiscope on the
challenge (for up to that time no photographs had been taken Midway of the World's Columbian Exposition of 1893,
at the speed necessary to capture such action) andwas begin- Muybridge returned to England permanently. He died in
ning to develop a method for approaching the problem when Kingston-upon-Thames in 1904.
a personal tragedy almost ended his career.

In 1874 Muybridge discovered that the son borne him by The 60 sequences presented in this volume were selected
his younger wife was, in fact, not his. Having determined from the complete set of 781. To understand the plates fully

that the father was one Harry Larkyns, he sought the man it is necessary to discuss Muvbridge's method briefly. In an
out and shot him to death. Muybridge came close to being open shed about 120 feet long a background, against which
lynched. At his trial in 1875, a plea of insanity was entered the models moved, was marked off by threads into squares of
but the jury ignored it, choosing instead to acquit Muybridge 5 cm (approximately 2 inches). These aided in following the

on the ground that Larkyns had deserved his fate. movements and facilitated use by artists. Parallel to the shed
Soon after the trial, Muybridge spent six months photo- was a fixed battery of 24 cameras. Two portable batteries of
graphing various sites in Panama and Guatemala. Returning 12 cameras each were positioned at both ends ot the shed,
to San Francisco, he made a successful panorama of the city either at an angle of 90° relative to the shed or at an angle of
and environs and then, once again, directed his attention to 60°. The equipment (and the use of newly available gelatin
the movement of the horse. Resuming his collaboration with drv plates) allowed three photographs to be taken simul-
Stanford, he developed chemical and mechanical techniques taneously, one from each battery. The photographs re-

to capture motion in sequences. The publication of his re- produced in the plates (frequently featuring views from all

sults allowed people, for the first time, to see clearly attitudes three vantage points) are numbered in chronological order,
taken by horses in motion. going from left to right if such was the principal direction of
Muybridge found that public curiosity was sufficient to the action being recorded; right to left if the motion occurred
warrant lectures on his experiments. To illustrate them he in that direction. When several separate sequences are re-
developed the zoopraxiscope, which, using the principle ol corded on a plate, they are differentiated bj letter. The
the ZOetrope, allowed him to project images creating the descriptions of the activities depicted are based closely on
appearance of motion. On the basis ol this invention, many those assigned by Muybridge in his Prospectus ami (
'ata

people credit Muybridge as the inventor of the motion pic- logue of Plates. The sequences an- arranged as follows: men
ture. nude, men in pelvis cloth, women nude, women partiall)

In August 1881 Muybridge went to Europe, where he was draped, children.

greeted with enthusiasm. On November 26 the painter
 Contents

MEN
plate 1. Walking page 2 16. Football: dropkick 32
2. Walking 4 17. Heaving a 20-lb. rock 34
3. Walking and carrying a 50-lb. dumbbell in 18. Striking a blow with right hand 36
right hand 6 19. Handspring over a man's back 38
4. Running at full speed 8 20. Blacksmith hammering on anvil with two hands 40
5. Running at full speed (two models) 10 21. Lifting a log on end 42
6. Ascending an incline 12 22. Wrestling: Graeco-Roman 44
7. Ascending stairs 14 23. First ballet action 46
8. Descending an incline 16 24. A, B: Sitting down. C: Sprinkling water.
9. Descending a stepladder and turning around D: Stooping for cup and drinking 48
with a rock in hands 18 25. Starting for a run 50
10. Jumping over a boy's back (leapfrog) 20 26. Jumping: running straight high jump 52
11. Baseball: batting 22 27. Jumping: standing broad jump 54
12. Baseball: catching 24 28. Boxing: open hand 56
13. Baseball: throwing 26 29. Headspring: a flying pigeon interfering 58
14. Cricket: overarm bowling 28 30. Blacksmiths hammering on anvil 60
15. Cricket: batting and drive 30

WOMEN
31. Walking 62 44. Taking a 12-lb. basket from head and putting
32. Walking and carrying a bucket of water in each it on ground

hand 64 45. Bending over a trestle with a water jar 90

33. Walking and throwing a handkerchief over 46. Kneeling on left knee, carrving basket, and
shoulders 66 rising 92
34. Turning around in surprise and running away 68 47. Arising from kneeling and turning 94
35. Ascending an incline with a bucket of water in 48. Arising from ground with newspaper in left

each hand 70 hand 96

36. Ascending stairs and looking around with basin 49. Stumbling and falling on the ground 98
in hands 72 50. Picking up a ball and throwing it 100
37. Turning and ascending stairs with a bucket of 51. Kicking a hat 102
water in each hand 74 52. Woman pouring a bucket of water over another
38. Ascending a stepladder two steps at a time 76 woman 104
39. Descending an incline 78 53. Dressing: stooping and throwing wrap around
40. Descending an incline with a 20-lb. basket on shoulders 106
head, hands raised 80 54. A: Lifting a ball. B: Emptying a bucket ol water.
41. Descending stairs and turning around 82 C: Kicking above her head. I): Striking with a
42. Stepping up on a trestle, jumping down and stick. F: Stumbling. F: Lifting a 50-lb. dumbbell 10S
turning 84 55. Jumping from stone to stone across a brook 110
?
43. Crawling on hands and knees 86 56. Dancing (fancy) 1 1

CHILDREN
57. Child bringing a bouquet to a woman 114 59. Child crawling on hands ami knees lis
58. Child running 116 60. Child crawling up stairs 120
THE MALE AND FEMALE
FIGURE IN MOTION
60 CLASSIC PHOTOGRAPHIC
SEQUENCES
/. Walking.
2. Walking.
fj
3. Walking and carrying a 50-lb. dumbbell in right hand.
4. Running at full speed.
J
 5. Running at full speed (tzvo models).

10
I

11
6. Ascending an incline.
13
 7. . \scending stairs.

14
 8. Descending an incline.

16
17
9. Descending a step/odder and turning around with a rock in hands.
 10. Jumping over a boy's back (leapfrog).

20

^
21
 11. Baseball: batting.

22
12. Baseball: catching.
13. Baseball: throwing.
 14. Cricket: overarm bowling.

\m
75. Cricket: batting and drive.
31
32
1
 17. I leaving a 20-lb. rock.

34
 » irii riMfiai lifl lriirmriii

18. Striking a blow with right hand.

36
UiF iiiliiMiui

:>:
 19. Handspring over a man's back.

38
39
2.0. Blacksmith hammering on anvil with two hands.
41
21. Lifting a log on end.
43
22. Wrestling: Graeco-Roman.

44
45
23. First ballet action.

46
 24. A, B: Sitting dozen. C: Sprinkling water. D: Stooping for cup and drinking.
(The model is Muybridge.)

48
v>
 25. Starting for a run.

50
51
26. Jumping: running straight high jump.
 27. Jumping: standing broad jump.

54
 28. Boxing: open hand.

56
 29. Headspring: a flying pigeon interfering.

58
 JO. Blacksmiths hammering on anvil.

60
61
31. Walking.
63
32. Walking and carrying a bucket ofivater in each hand.
33. \\ (ilkuiii and throwing a handkerchief aver shoulders
34. Turning around in surprise and running aicay.
 35. Ascending an incline with a bucket of water in each hand.

70
36. Ascending stairs and looking around with basin in hands.
 37. Turning and ascending stairs zcith a bucket of water in each hand.

74
 38. Ascending a stepladder two steps at a time.

76
39. Descending an incline.
40. Descending an incline with a ZO-lb. basket on head, hands raised.
SI
 41. Descending stairs and turning around.

82
 42. Stepping up on a trestle, jumping down and turning.

84
 43. Crazvling on hands and knees.

86
44. Taking a 12-lb. basket from head and putting it on ground.
 45. Bending over a trestle with a water jar.

90
91
 46. Kneeling on left knee, earning basket, and using.

92
 47. Arising from kneeling and turning.

94
 48. Arising from ground with newspaper in left hand.

96
98
2/

99
 50. Picking up a ball and throwing it.

1(H)
 51. Kicking a hat.

102
III?
52. W oman pouring a bucket of water over another tcoman.
 53. Dressing: stooping and throwing wrap around shoulders.

106
108
 S -c

-a: R
 55. Jumping from stone to stone across a brook.

110
II
 56. Dancing (fancy).

112
-
 57. Child bunging a bouquet to a woman.

114
;
 58. Child running.

116
 59. Child crawling on hands and knees.

118
II"
60. Child crawling up stairs.

121)
121
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 Eadweard Muybridge

THE
MALE AND FEMALE
FIGURE IN MOTION
60 Classic Photographic Sequences

Now artists, illustrators, photographers scientists can have Eadweard

and
Muybridge's rare, unparalleled true photographs in an inexpensive
action
paperbound edition. Sixty classic photographic sequences of the male and female
figure in motion, selected from the monumental original collection of 781, have
been painstakingly reproduced on fine coated stock.

Taken at speeds ranging up to l/6000th of a second, incredibly precise images show

undraped subjects against ruled backgrounds in countless actions, most from three
angles: front, rear and three-quarter view. You'll find men boxing, hammering,
heaving a rock, walking, running, leaping, climbing steps, carrying weights,
playing baseball, cricket and football. Dozens of stopped- action photographs show
women walking, turning, kneeling, jumping, bending, dancing and dressing. And
several sequences illustrate children in various typical activities.

No more complete study of the human body in action has ever been done.
Coundess split-second motions involved in even the simplest movements — the
curling of toes, the shift of gravity centers, the tightening and relaxing of
muscles — a myriad of subtle details that make drawings, paintings and animations
come to life— are captured in these historic photographs.

Eadweard Muybridge's 19th-century masterpiece remains one of the greatest

achievements of art and photography. Now this edition, unprecedented in
publishing, brings a superb selection of classic action photographs within reach of
everyone.

Dover selection of 60 complete sequences from Animal Locomotion (1887).

Publisher's Note. List of plates, v + 121pp. 9 x 12. Paperbound.
o
o
A DOVER EDITION DESIGNED FOR YEARS OF USE! -
We have made every effort to make this the best book possible. Our paper is 2

opaque, with minimal show-through; it will not discolor or become brittle with age. f
Pages are bound in signatures, in the method traditionally used for the best books, <
"0
*
and will not drop out. Books open flat for easy reference. The binding will not crack
or split. This is a permanent book. PI

ISBN 0-Mflb-2M7M5-7
90000

$10.^5 INUSA 9 '780486 247458