De la Salle. Gabriel. 45 ans, né à Nantes (Loire-Inf.). Publiciste. Disposition du Préfet de Police. 16/3/94. 1894

Editor: This photograph, "De la Salle. Gabriel. 45 ans, né à Nantes," created in 1894 by Alphonse Bertillon, is quite striking. It looks like a mugshot and gives off a somber, official feeling. The handwritten notations add to that sense. What historical context informs our understanding of this work? Curator: It's more than just a portrait; it is a key example of Bertillonage, a system of criminal identification that was innovative in its time. Bertillon was a French police officer and biometrics researcher. Can you imagine the implications of systematically documenting and archiving individuals in this way? Editor: So, this wasn't intended as art, but as a tool for law enforcement? The clinical nature makes a lot more sense now, a far cry from artistic portraiture! Curator: Precisely. Consider the societal impact. This image highlights anxieties about crime, social control, and the rise of scientific authority in the late 19th century. It embodies the burgeoning field of criminology and its reliance on visual data. How do you think the public perceived these images at the time? Editor: I suppose on one hand, it could provide reassurance and make society feel protected; on the other hand, there would surely be privacy concerns and distrust. Curator: And importantly, this was taking place alongside burgeoning advancements in photography, further demonstrating how new technologies are invariably entangled in power structures. Now when you look at the photograph again, does your understanding shift? Editor: Absolutely. Seeing it through a historical lens helps to understand the subject’s pose and why it evokes that official tone; and how deeply surveillance technologies impact the individual and our social fabric. It's really quite powerful. Thanks for shedding light on the context. Curator: And thank you for your thoughtful reflections! Understanding the historical framework transforms the way we interact with this photograph.