Schouppe. Placide. (dit Ricken, Franz). 31 ans, né à Dickenvenne (Belgique). Mécanicien. Vol. 1889

This is a photograph made by Alphonse Bertillon, a French police officer and biometrics researcher, in the late 19th century. It’s made using photographic processes that were cutting-edge at the time, but have now become historical. Bertillon developed a system of identification based on physical measurements; this image of Placide Schouppe, a Belgian mechanic and thief, was part of that effort. The albumen print, a process involving coating paper with egg white and silver nitrate, gives the image its distinctive sepia tone and smooth surface. The level of detail captured, from the texture of Schouppe's suit to the glint in his eyes, speaks to the precision of both the photographic technique and Bertillon’s method. But consider this: the very act of meticulously documenting Schouppe, reducing him to a set of measurable data, speaks to broader social issues of labor and class. Schouppe's occupation as a mechanic is a reminder of the industrial labor that fueled 19th-century society. Ultimately, the photograph makes us consider the complex interplay between art, science, and social control in the modern era.