Jordy. Baptiste. 61 ans, né le 8/72/32 à Labardes (Aude). Cordonnier. Anarchiste. 2/7/94. 1894

Alphonse Bertillon made this mugshot photograph of Jordy. Baptiste in France in 1894 using the then-new technique of criminal identification. It reveals a tension between art, science, and social control in late 19th-century Europe. Bertillon was a French police officer and biometrics researcher who applied anthropometry to create an identification system based on physical measurements. This portrait combines photography with precise data collection in the service of law enforcement. But beyond its institutional function, the image also offers a glimpse into the life of an individual—identified as a 61-year-old anarchist and shoemaker. The social history of anarchism in France, the records of the French police force, and Bertillon's writings provide valuable insights into the historical and cultural context of this image. They remind us that art is often embedded in broader systems of power and knowledge.