Zes portretten van dieven en inbrekers before 1886

This anonymous print shows six portraits of thieves and burglars. Each man is labeled with their name and crime; for example, we see here a ‘general thief,’ ‘bank burglar,’ and ‘highway robber.’ This series of images can be understood as part of a broader cultural interest in crime and criminality. In 19th-century Europe and America, physiognomy, the pseudoscience of judging character from facial features, experienced renewed popularity. Photography was seen as a tool that could be used to document and classify criminals. These images might have been used by law enforcement, but the inclusion of names suggests this print was meant for public consumption. The mugshots were carefully posed to record their likenesses, but they also unintentionally reveal information about class and social status. Some wear suits, while others are in simple shirts and jackets. These images raise questions about how society defines and treats those who break the law. To learn more, consider archival sources and conduct further historical research into the context in which this print was created.