Dejernier (ou Degernier). Edouard. 45 ans, né à Gand (Belgique). Tailleur d'habits. Anarchiste. 8/3/94. 1894

This photograph by Alphonse Bertillon captures Édouard Dejernier, an anarchist, in 1894. The symbols of identification—the stark frontal pose, the numbers scrawled across the image—speak to the rise of scientific methods of cataloging individuals, an attempt to control the unruly elements of society. Consider the mustache, a pronounced feature that frames Dejernier's face. Across history, facial hair has signified virility, wisdom, or rebellion. Think of the proud mustaches of Assyrian kings, emblems of power, or the later, defiant beards of 19th-century revolutionaries. Yet here, the mustache, combined with the plain clothing, paradoxically signifies conformity to a certain type of anarchist, hinting at the complexities of identity within social movements. This image, seemingly a straightforward record, stirs deep-seated emotions. It is a stark reminder of how society attempts to categorize and contain those who challenge its norms, sparking questions about freedom, control, and the enduring human spirit of defiance. The act of documenting, of capturing a likeness, becomes a powerful tool, yet the subject's gaze reminds us of the individual's resilience against being reduced to mere data.