Haesig. Léon. 18 ans, né à St-Denis. Chaudronnier. Disposition du Préfet de Police. 14/4/94. 1894

This albumen print, made in Paris in 1894 by Alphonse Bertillon, shows a young man named Léon Haesig. Bertillon was the head of the criminal identification division, and he pioneered this method of forensic photography. What's interesting is how the photographic process itself becomes a tool of social control. Each image, carefully produced, becomes a record in a system designed to monitor and manage the working class. Haesig’s profession, listed as "chaudronnier," or boilermaker, is crucial here, and his youth suggests a life already shaped by labor and class. The very act of documenting him in this way highlights the power dynamics at play. This work raises questions about the relationship between photographic artistry, social class, and the means of production. It challenges us to consider how images can be both documents and instruments of power. Ultimately, this photograph serves as a stark reminder of the social context in which images are created, circulated, and consumed.