Dutheil. Louis. 29 ans, né le 28/7/64 à Maisonnais (Ht Vienne). Tailleur d'habits. Anarchiste. 3/7/94. 1894

This is an albumen print made by Alphonse Bertillon in 1894, part of a series documenting individuals arrested or otherwise associated with criminal activity. Bertillon was a French police officer and biometrics researcher, and this photograph is an early example of forensic mugshots developed through his “anthropometric” identification system. We see Louis Dutheil, 29 years old, a tailor by trade and, notably, an anarchist. The context here is crucial: late 19th-century France was a hotbed of anarchist activity, viewed by authorities as a significant threat to social order. Bertillon’s system promised a scientific means of controlling and categorizing those deemed undesirable. Dutheil's gentle gaze and ordinary appearance complicate any easy association with criminality. The photograph reminds us of the power dynamics inherent in systems of surveillance, and raises questions about how society labels and marginalizes individuals based on their political beliefs or social identities. It asks us to consider how state power and individual identity intersect.