Pallaz (ou Pellaz). Péronne. 28 ans, née le 11/8/66 à Aix-les-Bains (Savoie). Cuisière. Anarchiste. 8/3/94. 1894

This is an albumen silver print by Alphonse Bertillon, made in France in 1894. Part of Bertillon’s project to document and classify criminals, it captures Péronne, a 28-year-old cook identified as an anarchist. These mugshots emerged from a time of social upheaval, particularly in France, where anarchist movements challenged existing power structures. Bertillon's photographic system was designed to control and categorize individuals who were deemed threats to social order. Here, the photograph doesn’t simply capture an image; it attempts to capture and define an identity. It is hard to look at this image and not reflect on issues of social justice, class, and resistance. The unflinching gaze of the subject challenges the dehumanizing intent of the photograph. The details noted—her profession, her age, and her political affiliation—speak volumes about the anxieties of the time. Consider the emotional weight of being reduced to a set of characteristics, a permanent record of suspicion and resistance.