Rigollet. Alexandre. 41 ans, né dans le Loir-et-Cher. Terrassier. Anarchiste. 1894

Editor: This is a photograph titled "Rigollet. Alexandre. 41 ans, né dans le Loir-et-Cher. Terrassier. Anarchiste.” made by Alphonse Bertillon in 1894. It's a print and photograph. It feels so…stark. What do you see when you look at this image? Curator: Well, immediately I see more than just a portrait. I see a visual artifact of social control. Bertillon was a pioneer of forensic photography. These aren’t just portraits; they’re mugshots designed to categorize and track individuals, particularly those deemed "deviant" by the state. This is the science of Bertillonage at work. Editor: So, it's less about art and more about…policing? Curator: Exactly. The meticulous measurements, the full-frontal pose – they all contribute to a system intended to create a visual database of criminals and "undesirables." It reflects the anxieties of the time regarding social order and the perceived threat of anarchy, specifically the rise of radical political movements. What does it say to you that the man's occupation and political affiliation are listed alongside his name? Editor: It really does dehumanize him. He's not just Alexandre Rigollet; he's a terrassier, an anarchist, part of a perceived threat. I didn’t see it that way at first. Curator: Precisely! This image shows the role of photography and how it intersects with social and political power structures of the era. How are images used for similar purposes today? Editor: It makes me think about facial recognition and surveillance. Curator: Indeed. It demonstrates how the "neutral" technology can serve specific social agendas. Something I did not expect when I started our chat today! Editor: I came in thinking it was just an old photograph, now I'm considering it as a historical record of power. Thanks.