Spanagel. Alfred, Vincent. 17 ans, né le 27/5/77 à Paris. Serrurier. Anarchiste. 7/7/94. 1894

This mugshot of Alfred Spanagel, a 17-year-old anarchist, was made by Alphonse Bertillon in Paris on July 7th, 1894. Bertillon was a French police officer and biometrics researcher who invented the "Bertillonage" system of identification based on physical measurements. This photograph, part of Bertillon's archive, reflects the anxieties of the French Third Republic. The rise of anarchist movements in the late 19th century challenged the established order, and figures like Spanagel were seen as threats to national security. Bertillon's system aimed to classify and control individuals deemed dangerous to society, embodying a shift towards more scientific and systematic methods of policing. The very act of photographing and categorizing Spanagel speaks to the institutional power exerted over marginalized groups. Historians can use police archives, newspapers, and political pamphlets to understand the social and political context of this image. Understanding art requires sensitivity to the institutional forces that shape its production and reception.