Dumont. Henri, Victor. 29 ans, né à Issy (Seine). Mécanicien. Anarchiste. 8/3/94. 1894

Alphonse Bertillon’s 1894 portrait, “Dumont. Henri. 29 ans, né à Issy (Seine). Mécanicien. Anarchiste. 8/3/94.,” is a photographic mugshot that exemplifies Bertillon’s innovative system of criminal identification known as anthropometry. The photograph, part of a series documenting Parisian criminals, showcases a standardized portrait format, featuring a frontal view of the subject, Dumont Henri, a 29-year-old anarchist mechanic. Bertillon’s meticulous approach, employing precise measurements and detailed descriptions, revolutionized police work and contributed significantly to the development of forensic science. This particular image, housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, stands as a testament to the power of photography to record individual identities and the historical context of crime and punishment in late-19th-century France.