Morane. Antoine. 35 ans, né à Chalinargue (Cantal). Manœvre. Anarchiste. 6/3/94. 1894

This photographic print, by Alphonse Bertillon, captures Antoine Morane, a 35-year-old anarchist. More than a mere record, this image is a study in the symbols of identity and rebellion. Note first, the arresting gaze and the proud mustache; the way the scarf is knotted loosely around his neck, each an assertion of self in a system designed to strip one bare. This gaze reminds us of the portraits of philosophers and revolutionaries throughout the ages—each a challenge to the status quo. Consider the mustache, echoed in portraits of soldiers and artists alike. This could also be related to masculinity and virility. Yet, here, it seems defiant, a statement etched upon the face itself. These symbols have recurred through history, shifting with each revolution and rebellion, and remind us that history is not linear but a series of echoes and reverberations.