Gordon. Max. 39 ans, né le 20/8/54 à Vilna (Italie). Employé de commerce. Anarchiste. 2/7/94. 1894

This is a photograph made in France in 1894 by Alphonse Bertillon. It depicts Max Gordon, who was 39 years old, worked as a clerk, and was an anarchist. Bertillon was a French police officer and biometrics researcher who applied anthropometric techniques to law enforcement, creating an identification system based on physical measurements. In this context, the mugshot takes on an explicitly political dimension as it reflects the state's surveillance of individuals deemed threats to social order. The photograph creates meaning through its stark visual codes and historical associations, documenting a specific moment in France, shaped by political movements and economic structures. The institutional history of law enforcement and the rise of scientific criminology are also relevant. By examining police archives and historical records, we can better understand the social and institutional context in which this image was produced and the political implications it carries. The meaning of art is always contingent on the social and institutional context in which it is made.