Gatinet. Pierre, Adrien. 50 ans, né le 13/10/43 à Bourges (Cher). Charpentier. Anarchiste. 2/7/94. 1894

Curator: Standing before us, we have a gelatin silver print from 1894. The inscription tells us: “Gatinet. Pierre, Adrien. 50 ans, né le 13/10/43 à Bourges (Cher). Charpentier. Anarchiste. 2/7/94." The photographer is Alphonse Bertillon. Editor: There's something so hauntingly simple about this image. That direct gaze… it feels almost like he's staring right through time at us, doesn't it? You can sense a life lived, etched into the very lines of his face. Curator: Indeed. Bertillon was a French police officer and biometrics researcher. This photograph is an example of his "portrait parlé" system, a method of identifying and documenting criminals. It was quite innovative for its time. Editor: Innovative and unnerving. Knowing it's a police mugshot completely shifts how you read his expression. The almost comical mustache now feels… defiant? It makes me wonder, what led him to be labeled an anarchist? What was he fighting for? Curator: The late 19th century was a period of immense social and political upheaval, marked by the rise of anarchist movements. His profession as a carpenter might also indicate something about his social class and sympathies. This image isn't just a portrait; it's a document of a specific historical context, raising critical questions about power, surveillance, and social justice. Editor: The impersonal scientific approach of Bertillon clashes so violently with the palpable humanity in the image, which perhaps is exactly what makes it such a compelling historical document. And, unintentionally perhaps, an accidental, yet emotionally charged portrait. Curator: Absolutely. This image serves as a stark reminder of the individuals caught within larger social forces. Bertillon aimed to create a tool for control, but art always holds the ability to show us deeper truths, however unintentional. Editor: I’ll certainly not look at police mugshots in the same way after our discussion today. Curator: Nor I! A perfect summary I'd say.