Sigel. Jacques. 24 ans, né à Kuttalsheim (Bas Rhin). Bijoutier. Anarchiste. 26/2/94. 1894

Alphonse Bertillon made this photograph of Jacques Sigel around 1894 using an albumen print. The mugshot, with its muted sepia tones and stark frontal pose, captures Sigel's likeness with unflinching directness. The composition is simple, focusing on the symmetry of Sigel's face, framed by his dark hair and mustache. Bertillon's "portrait parlé" or speaking portrait, was part of his anthropometric system—a method of identifying individuals through precise body measurements. This photographic approach reflects the positivist spirit of the late 19th century, seeking to categorize and understand human behavior through empirical observation. The photograph, beyond its aesthetic qualities, functions as a tool of social control, attempting to fix identity within a scientific framework. However, the very act of framing Sigel, labeling him as an anarchist, destabilizes the notion of a neutral, objective record. The photograph becomes a site where science, power, and identity intersect, revealing the complex interplay between representation and reality.