Masini (dit Mazzini). Angelo, Henri. 25 ans, né le 4/9/69 à Milan (Italie). Ébéniste. Anarchiste. 1/9/94. 1894

This is an albumen print made by Alphonse Bertillon in 1894, a forensic portrait of Angelo Masini, an Italian cabinet maker and anarchist. The albumen process involves coating paper with egg white and silver nitrate, creating a surface sensitive to light. A glass negative is then placed on the paper and exposed to sunlight, resulting in a detailed, sepia-toned image. The final print shows Masini in a suit, with a label indicating his name, profession, and political affiliation. What is interesting here is how Bertillon is using photography, which was itself an emerging technology in the late 19th century, for the purposes of social control. Masini’s profession as a cabinet maker is also relevant, since woodworking was seen as a trade associated with skilled labor and potentially, with radical politics. The convergence of photography, craft, and social context in this portrait challenges traditional notions of fine art, prompting us to consider the broader implications of image-making in shaping perceptions of class, crime, and identity.