Drie afbeeldingen gerelateerd aan een moord bij de Tour de Malakoff before 1890

This anonymous composite illustration titled “Drie afbeeldingen gerelateerd aan een moord bij de Tour de Malakoff” combines photographs with text, offering a glimpse into late 19th century Parisian crime reporting. On the left, a detailed account in French describes the murder of Madame Riel by Marguerite Diblanc. Diblanc, a domestic servant, killed her mistress in a fit of rage, concealing the body before fleeing to Paris with stolen valuables. To the right, two mugshots of the assumed perpetrator appear above a photograph of the crime scene. A string of beads, perhaps a rosary, is draped across the right side of the image. The visual construction of the piece, with its focus on both the accused and the location of the crime, invites viewers to consider themes of guilt, justice, and the gaze of the surveilling public. The rosary beads add a layer of complexity, hinting at notions of sin, repentance, or perhaps the ever-present specter of morality in the face of violence. This piece shapes a societal narrative around crime, class, and gender.