Ridou. Paul, François. 27 (ou 28) ans. Ébéniste. Anarchiste. 8/3/94. 1894

This photograph, taken by Alphonse Bertillon in 1894, is part of the French criminologist’s infamous "Bertillonage" system. This system utilized a series of eleven measurements of the human body, along with mugshots, to identify criminals. The subject of this portrait, François Paul, was a 27-year-old anarchist cabinetmaker who was arrested in 1894. The photograph, part of a series of 11, provides a clear frontal view of Paul, his age, profession, and the date of his arrest noted at the bottom of the photo.