Lapeyre. Louis, Pierre. 29 ans. né à Rodez (Aveyron). Employé. Anarchiste. 10/3/94. 1894

This mugshot of Louis Pierre Lapeyre was made in France, in 1894, by Alphonse Bertillon, using an albumen silver print. Bertillon was the head of criminal identification for the Paris police. He invented the "speaking portrait," or mugshot, in the 1880s. The image before us, part of Bertillon's records, is more than a mere photograph. It's a window into a time of social upheaval and state surveillance. Lapeyre, an employee from Aveyron, is described as an anarchist. This label speaks volumes in a period marked by rising political tensions and the surveillance of those deemed subversive. Bertillon's photographic method was part of a broader effort to classify and control individuals who threatened the social order. Looking at this image, we might ask: How did institutions like the police shape the representation of individuals? What was the role of photography in constructing the identities of those deemed 'criminal'? By exploring these questions, using police archives and other resources, we can understand the complex relationship between art, power, and social control in the late 19th century.