Borderie. Raoul. 18 ans, né à Castelsarazin (Tarn & Garonne). Peintre en bâtiment. Anarchiste. 1/3/94. 1894

This is an albumen print of “Borderie. Raoul. 18 ans” made by Alphonse Bertillon in 1894. Bertillon was a French police officer and biometrics researcher who applied anthropological techniques to law enforcement, creating an identification system based on physical measurements. In this mugshot we see more than just an image; we glimpse into the criminalization of certain identities. Raoul, identified here as a painter and an anarchist, embodies the fears of a society grappling with political dissent. The use of photography as a tool for surveillance speaks volumes about power dynamics and the control of marginalized groups. What does it mean to have one’s identity reduced to a set of measurements and a mugshot? How does this image both capture and erase Raoul’s humanity? This photograph is a stark reminder of the ways in which identity, politics, and power intersect.