LaumesfeIt. Paul, Mathias. 35 ans, né le 29/3/59. à Paris VIe. Tailleur d'habits. Anarchiste. 2/7/94. 1894

This is an albumen print of Paul Laumesfelt, made in 1894 by Alphonse Bertillon. Bertillon was the head of criminal identification for the Paris police. The image is part of a series of portraits of alleged anarchists, taken during a period of intense political turmoil in France. Laumesfelt, identified as a 35-year-old tailor, stares directly at the camera, his expression unreadable, caught between defiance and resignation. These photographs were part of Bertillon's "portrait parlé" system, aimed at standardizing the identification of criminals through precise measurements and categorization. Consider the power dynamics at play: the state’s attempt to codify and control individuals deemed threats to the social order. The portraits reduce individuals to data points, stripping them of their humanity. How might Laumesfelt have felt, standing before this camera, knowing his image would be used to categorize and potentially incriminate him? These images serve as chilling reminders of the ways in which power, identity, and representation intersect.