Instrumenten om mensen mee vast te binden before 1890

This is a page from an anonymous illustrated book, depicting various instruments of restraint. The image and text combine to present us with insight into the mechanics and culture of policing, likely dating back to the 19th century. We see a range of tools – handcuffs, shackles, and other binding devices – each designed to control and immobilize individuals. The visual arrangement of these tools, presented as specimens, highlights their function within the broader context of law enforcement. The accompanying text sheds light on the social context in which these instruments were used, the daily interactions between officers and detainees in Parisian streets, and the methods of restraining individuals in various situations. To fully understand this artwork, we might delve into archives of police records, legal documents, and social histories of crime and punishment in 19th-century France. Through historical contextualization, we can begin to unpack the complex interplay between power, control, and social order.