Renaud. Jules. 41 ans, né à Anteuil (Doubs). Cordonnier. Anarchiste. 27/2/94. 1894

This mugshot was taken by Alphonse Bertillon, using photographic materials and techniques standard for criminal identification in 1894. Bertillon was a pioneer in applying photography to law enforcement. The sepia tones and sharp focus, typical of early photography, render Jules Renaud's image with a stark realism. As a shoemaker, Renaud would have been skilled in manipulating materials and forms, yet here he is reduced to an object himself. This photograph is less about individual expression and more about categorizing a subject. Renaud's profession, coupled with his anarchist label, suggests a resistance to the emerging industrial order. Consider the labor involved in producing this image, compared to the labor of shoemaking. Bertillon's method aimed to systematize and control, in contrast to the craft tradition of individual artisans. In this context, the photograph becomes a symbol of power, reflecting broader social issues of labor, class, and the rise of capitalist systems. This challenges conventional distinctions between fine art and craft.