Drie portretten van moordenaars en zes vrouwelijke slachtoffers before 1890

This is Plate 33 of "La Police Parisienne," a book published in the late 19th century. It presents nine photographic portraits: three men identified as murderers and six women labelled as their victims. In a time of burgeoning photographic technology, consider the power dynamics at play. The book and its images operate within a specific socio-political context, reflecting anxieties around crime and social order. The inclusion of women as victims reinforces prevailing gender norms and vulnerabilities. This is a public record, yet deeply personal stories are at play. The stark contrast between the portraits of the accused and their victims invites reflection on justice, representation, and the narratives we construct around crime and punishment. Are these images tools of justice or sensationalist exploitation? This image presents a moment ripe with tension between public record, private tragedy, and societal judgment.