Peticolin. Henri. 23 ans, né le 8/6/71 à Goersdorf (Bas-Rhin). Vernisseur. Anarchiste. 2/7/94. 1894

This mugshot of Henri Peticolin was made in 1894 by Alphonse Bertillon, using photographic materials and processes typical of the late 19th century. Photography, originally celebrated as a tool for scientific accuracy, was here mobilized for law enforcement. The albumen print, created from a glass negative, captures Peticolin's likeness with stark clarity. The process, involving coating paper with egg white and silver nitrate, yields a sharp image, but one drained of warmth – mirroring the dehumanizing nature of the criminal justice system. Bertillon's "portrait parlé," or spoken portrait, includes handwritten annotations about Peticolin: his age, birthplace, profession as a varnisher, and political affiliation as an anarchist. Here, photography becomes a tool of surveillance, fixing Peticolin in a system that sought to categorize and control individuals deemed outside the norm. Looking closely at the image, we realize how the making of the work is completely interwoven with the politics of its time. It invites us to think about the relationship between art, technology, and power.