Brunet. Georges. 25 ans, né à Paris. Menuisier. Anarchiste. 4/2/94. 1894

This mugshot of Brunet Georges, a 25-year-old anarchist carpenter from Paris, was made in 1894 by Alphonse Bertillon. It exemplifies the late 19th-century French obsession with scientific classification. Bertillon, a clerk in the Paris police, developed anthropometry - a system using precise body measurements to identify criminals. This photograph, part of that system, attempts to capture not just an image, but also a set of quantifiable data meant to categorize and control individuals. The very act of photographing, measuring, and labeling Brunet reflects the anxieties of the French Third Republic, grappling with social unrest and political radicalism. Anarchists, like Brunet, were seen as a threat to the established order. Understanding this image requires delving into the history of criminology, photography, and the socio-political climate of France at the time. Through archival research and analysis, we can uncover the complex power dynamics at play in this seemingly simple photograph.