Pichon. Ernest. 41 ans, né le 2/11/52 à Villard-Rixoire (Jura). Terrassier. Anarchiste. 2/7/94. 1894

This is a mugshot, made in France on July 2nd, 1894, by Alphonse Bertillon. It depicts Ernest Pichon, a 41-year-old laborer and, notably, an anarchist. Bertillon pioneered this form of identification, known as "Bertillonage," combining photography with precise body measurements to classify and track criminals. Look closely, and you can see numbers inscribed on the image, part of this system. This was a period of intense social anxiety in France, with anarchist movements challenging the established order. The state, through institutions like the police, sought new ways to monitor and control dissent. Photography, then a relatively new technology, became a tool for surveillance. The mugshot, far from being a neutral record, reflects the power dynamics of the time. It’s a stark reminder of how art and technology can be used to reinforce social control. To fully understand this image, we might consult police archives, sociological studies of anarchism, and histories of photography. The meaning of art is contingent on social and institutional context.