Widcoq. Alfred, François, Adolphe. 32 ans, né à Fressenneville (Somme). Mécanicien. Anarchiste. 10/3/94. 1894

This mugshot of Widcoq Alfred François, a 32-year-old anarchist, was created by Alphonse Bertillon in 1894. Bertillon was a French criminologist known for his system of anthropometry, which used body measurements to identify criminals. This image offers a glimpse into the policing of identity and political dissent in late 19th-century France. Widcoq, identified as a mechanic and an anarchist, was captured at a time when anarchist movements were gaining traction, often viewed as a threat to the social order. The photograph thus becomes a tool of surveillance, attempting to fix and classify Widcoq within a system of control. What does it mean to reduce a person to a set of measurements and labels? This photograph invites us to consider the intersection of identity, politics, and power. It captures a moment in history when the state sought to define and contain individuals who challenged its authority. It makes me think about how we are categorized and understood, and how we resist those categorizations.