74 THE PROBLEM OF THE GALLOPING HORSE 



minutes' film of himself taken when fencing, giving 

 10,000 consecutive poses. He wished to see exactly 

 what movements he made, and to ascertain by this 

 minute examination any error or want of grace in his 

 action, in order to avoid it. An unexpected picture is 

 obtained when a man or woman is thus " biographed " 

 whilst walking rapidly, and suddenly turns to the right or 

 left. A fraction of a second occurs when the toes of the 

 two feet are directed towards one another (that is to say, 

 are " turned in "), as one of the legs swings round in the 

 break-off to right or left. This instantaneous phase is 

 very awkward and ugly in appearance. It is never 

 pictured by artists, although regularly occurring, and 

 seems to have been as little known before instantaneous 

 photography was introduced as were most of the phases of 

 the horse's gallop. The positions assumed when in the air 

 by a high-jump athlete are almost incredible as revealed by 

 the camera. He appears to be sitting in a most uncom- 

 fortable way on the rope over which he is projecting himself. 

 A very fine attitude is fixed for the artist in one of 

 Muybridge's instantaneous series of the " bowler " the 

 cricket " bowler." The up-lifted right arm, the curve out- 

 wards of the whole figure on the right side, and the free 

 hang of the right leg make a most effective pose for a 

 sculptor to reproduce. Among the most remarkable results 

 obtained in Muybridge's series are the stages of the growth 

 or development of strong " expression " in the face. The 

 anxiety in the face of the baseball batsman as he awaits 

 the ball is painful ; as he hits at the ball his expression is 

 one of savage ferocity, and in a fraction of a second this 

 gives place to a dawning smile, which as we pass along 

 two or three later " instantanees " develops into a broad 

 grin of satisfaction. Another genuine study of expression 

 both of face and gesture and movement is given in the 

 series where a pailful of cold water is unexpectedly poured 



