Daressy. Pierre. 39 ans, né à Lherme (Haute-Garonne). Cordonnier. Anarchiste. 28/2/94. 1894

This photograph of Pierre Daressy, made in France in 1894 by Alphonse Bertillon, is a fascinating document of state power. Bertillon, a French police officer, pioneered the use of photography as a tool for criminal identification. Note the subject's direct gaze, his face, and the inscription. This "portrait parlé," or speaking portrait, as Bertillon called it, combined photography with anthropometric measurements and descriptive text, all meticulously recorded. The image creates meaning through its connection to the rise of scientific positivism and the desire to categorize and control populations. Anarchism was seen as a threat to social order. The photograph raises questions about the role of institutions, like the police, in shaping our understanding of identity and criminality. It is through archival research, and an understanding of the social context in which the photograph was made, that we can begin to unpack its meaning and significance.