Bourguoin. Hubert, Jules. 51 ans, né le 17/8/42 à Jelles (Seine & Marne). Maçon. Anarchiste. 2/7/94. 1894

This mugshot was taken by Alphonse Bertillon in 1894. Bertillon was a French criminologist and police officer who developed anthropometry, a system of criminal identification based on physical measurements. This image of Bourguoin Hubert, a 51-year-old anarchist bricklayer, encapsulates the complex intersection of identity, class, and political dissent in late 19th-century France. The coldness of Bertillon's photographic method speaks volumes about the era's attitude toward those deemed outside the social order. Anarchists, often from the working class, were viewed with suspicion and fear by the authorities. Looking at Hubert, one can't help but wonder about his life, his beliefs, and the circumstances that led him to be captured through Bertillon's lens. Does this image maintain or challenge traditional representations of criminality? It's a stark, humanizing portrait of a man labeled as a threat. This photograph serves as a poignant reminder of the human cost of political and social conflict and the power of images to shape our understanding of history.