Battledore and Shuttlecock

Sports have long provided a visual spectacle, so it is unsurprising that early motion picture experiments found them an intriguing subject matter. Given the constraints of his invention, Émile Reynaud tended to opt for minimalist reproductions. “Battledore and Shuttlecock” (1878) presents a young lady practising the game, gracefully focused on the flight of the shuttlecock. The scene offers a flavour of the activity without conveying much of its practice. This animation belongs to a category of works that display Reynaud’s artistic skill yet fall short of impressing through their limited range of movement, ultimately rendering the viewing experience less effective.