Bruchaesen. Etienne. 31 ans, né à Mag Levard (Hongrie). Tailleur d'habits. Anarchiste. 11/3/94. 1894

This mugshot of Bruchaesen Etienne, a 31-year-old tailor and anarchist, was produced in 1894 by Alphonse Bertillon using photography and ink on paper. The sepia tones create a sense of distance, inviting an almost forensic observation of the subject. Bertillon’s approach was rooted in standardisation, using photography as a tool for identification and control. The composition is rigidly structured, framing Bruchaesen’s face and upper body in a symmetrical manner. This formal arrangement seeks to reduce the individual to a set of measurable characteristics. His gaze is direct, yet the soft gradations of light and shadow render him vulnerable. This work exemplifies how the formal qualities of a photograph can be used to construct meaning, and reveals the tensions between individual identity and societal categorization. Through the lens of formalism, we see how Bertillon's work challenges our notions of representation and subjectivity, prompting us to question the ways in which we perceive and classify one another.