Francier. Éloi. 41 ans, né le 28/10/53 à Resson-le-Long (Aisne). Ébéniste. Anarchiste. 22/5/94. 1894

This is an albumen print made in France in 1894 by Alphonse Bertillon, a French police officer and biometrics researcher. The photograph is a mugshot of Francier Éloi, a 41-year-old cabinet maker and anarchist. This image embodies the anxieties of late 19th-century France. Éloi's profession and political affiliation are recorded alongside his physical appearance, marking him as a potential threat to social order. Bertillon developed a system of anthropometry, or the scientific measurement of the human body, as a method of identifying and tracking criminals. His work reflects a broader effort by the state to control and manage its population through surveillance and documentation. The very act of photographing Éloi and categorizing him reveals the institutional power at play, making this more than just a portrait. To fully understand this image, one could delve into police archives, political pamphlets, and sociological studies from the period. By exploring the conditions under which it was created we can better understand the complex relationship between art, power, and social control.