Plate Number 512. Contortions on the rings

Eadweard Muybridge

National Gallery of Art

This is a photograph of a sequence of movements involving gymnastics rings. The image comprises two rows, each row containing multiple frames that capture different stages of an acrobatic routine performed with rings. Each frame appears to transition smoothly from the previous one, emphasizing motion and flexibility as the acrobat moves through a sequence of poses. The photographic series captures the detailed muscle definition and the balanced positions held on the rings. The background features a grid pattern in the top row and a darker, draped setting in the bottom row, providing contrast to accentuate the subject's movements.