Sentenac. Phillipe. 36 ans, né à Soulan (Ariège). Menuisier. Anarchiste. 7/3/94. 1894

This is an albumen silver print made by Alphonse Bertillon, taken on March 7th, 1894. The photograph presents a man, identified as Sentenac. Phillipe, against a neutral backdrop, but it is the superimposition of text and numbers that immediately draws our attention. The writing, scrawled across the bottom portion of the image, and the numbers near the coat, introduce a layer of symbolic meaning. These are not mere aesthetic additions; instead, they function as signs and codes. What do they signify about the subject and the intentions of the photographer? Bertillon's methodical approach to identification reflects broader cultural anxieties. The photograph captures more than just a likeness. It encapsulates a moment in the history of social control, where photography and text converged to categorize and define individuals. The choice of albumen silver print, a medium known for its clarity, underscores the desire for precision and objective representation. Yet, the image destabilizes notions of a singular, fixed identity. It is a visual document that speaks to the complex interplay between art, science, and the construction of social categories.