Mayence. Gustave, David. 33 ans, né le 29/5/60 à Paris XVllle. Tapissier. Anarchiste. 17/3/94. 1894

This mugshot of Gustave Mayence, a 33-year-old anarchist, was made in Paris on March 17, 1894, by Alphonse Bertillon, using the new medium of photography. Bertillon was a French police officer and biometrics researcher who pioneered the use of photography for criminal identification. This image is more than just a portrait. It’s a product of a specific historical moment in France, marked by social unrest and anxieties about radical politics. The rise of anarchism in the late 19th century, with its critique of state power and capitalist exploitation, was perceived as a threat to social order. Institutions like the police used new technologies to monitor and control dissenting voices. Photography became a tool for surveillance and documentation, turning individuals into objects of scrutiny. To understand the meaning of this mugshot, we can research the history of anarchism in France, the development of forensic photography, and the social context in which these technologies were deployed. The power of art lies in its ability to reflect, reinforce, or challenge the social norms of its time.