Clouard. Paul, Jules. 35 ans, né le 20/6/58 à Peugans (Manche). Rétameur. Anarchiste. 9/3/94. 1894

Curator: This gelatin-silver print, dating back to 1894, presents a mugshot by Alphonse Bertillon, titled "Clouard. Paul, Jules. 35 ans, né le 20/6/58 à Peugans (Manche). Rétameur. Anarchiste. 9/3/94." It resides here at the Met. Editor: It's the face that gets me. Stoic, maybe a little world-weary. The eyes have this… I don't know, resigned intensity? It’s intimate and a little haunting, like he’s staring right through the future to us. Curator: Indeed. What we see here is more than a photograph; it's a record. Bertillon pioneered anthropometry, a system using precise body measurements to identify criminals. The face, a key identifier. Editor: The way he is labeled like a specimen is so odd. And “anarchist”—written right there? That wasn’t just data, it was a political declaration! Curator: Precisely. Photography became intertwined with social and political control, documenting perceived threats to the status quo. He's labeled, catalogued…almost dehumanized. Editor: There's a chilling beauty in that, I think. The detail – the faint shadows around his eyes. The artist made sure he didn't just fade. His identity almost burns into you. The way it’s presented, with this stark clarity... I can't help but wonder, what was he thinking? Curator: Perhaps resisting, perhaps resigned. The power of symbols lies in their multivalence, even those inscribed by institutions. Bertillon’s method aimed to erase individuality, but ironically, these images now amplify the individuality of each subject. Editor: You know, looking at him I see this almost strange empathy, this bizarre desire to almost reach into the picture and rescue the story. Like an icon yearning for its own gospel. Curator: And perhaps that's the subversive potential of images like these. Intended to control, but ultimately prompting reflection. Editor: Well, whatever story this photo really hides, I guess that looking deeper has unlocked something unique and even a bit beautiful about what time has left us to interpret here.