Hettich (ou Hettig). Eugène. 17 ans, né le 6/1/77 à Paris XXe. Cocher. Anarchiste. 16/3/94. 1894

This is a photograph made in France, in 1894, by Alphonse Bertillon. It depicts Eugène Hettich, a 17-year-old coach driver identified as an anarchist. Bertillon was a pioneer of forensic science. He developed a system of identification based on physical measurements. This photo, part of that system, reflects the anxieties of the time. Anarchism was perceived as a major threat to the established order. Note how Hettich is presented. The plain background, the direct gaze, and the visible notations transform him into an object of scientific scrutiny. It’s a stark contrast to traditional portraiture, where the subject's personality and status were emphasized. To understand this image fully, one would need to delve into the history of criminology, the rise of photography, and the social and political context of late 19th-century France. Only then can we appreciate how it reveals the power of institutions to classify and control individuals.