Dupuis. Augustin. 53 ans, né le 24/6/41 à Dourdan (Seine & Oise). Charron, forgeron. Anarchiste. 3/7/94. 1894

This albumen print of "Dupuis. Augustin. 53 ans..." was created by Alphonse Bertillon in 1894. The photograph presents a close-up portrait of a man, his face dominating the composition. The stark sepia tones and the texture of the aged paper underscore the gravity of the subject. Bertillon's interest lay in standardizing visual data for criminal identification. Here, the formal elements serve a purpose beyond aesthetics. The composition is rigidly frontal, minimizing subjective interpretation. Lines of the subject’s clothing and the inscribed numbers create a grid-like structure, aiming to categorize and control. The photograph destabilizes traditional portraiture by removing elements of individual expression. The sitter’s gaze confronts the viewer, yet his identity is subsumed by the formal requirements of the Bertillon system. As such, the image challenges conventional notions of identity and representation, raising questions about how systems of classification shape our understanding of the individual.