Wrestling: Graeco-Roman by Eadweard Muybridge (1884-85)

The photograph “Wrestling: Graeco-Roman” by Eadweard Muybridge, created in the years 1884-85, is a sequence of images that showcases a series of movements within the sport of wrestling, captured using Muybridge’s pioneering technique of stop-motion photography to analyze motion.

In the photograph, there are multiple frames that display a sequence of two individuals engaged in Greco-Roman wrestling. This style of wrestling does not allow holds below the waist, and the sequence demonstrates various holds and throws. The images are presented in a linear progression from left to right, depicting the initial contact, struggle for dominance, a throw that takes one wrestler off their feet, and the subsequent grappling on the ground. The frames exhibit a meticulous breakdown of the athletes’ movement, offering a detailed look into the dynamics of the sport during the late 19th century.

Other Photographs from Eadweard Muybridge

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