Deforge. Henri, Walter. 19 ans, né à Bruxelles (Belgique). Porteur de journaux. Anarchiste. 6/1/94. 1894

This mugshot of Henri, Walter, Deforge was taken on glass by Alphonse Bertillon in 1894. Bertillon was a French police officer and biometrics researcher, who applied photography to law enforcement. These images are rooted in documentary and forensic practices rather than artistic expression. Bertillon developed a meticulous system of measuring and recording physical characteristics, combined with photography, to identify repeat offenders. The process involved carefully controlled lighting and posing to ensure consistency across images. The use of glass plate negatives allowed for sharp detail, essential for accurate identification, even if the materiality of the glass itself may be overlooked. But these pictures were also tied to wider social issues of labor, politics, and consumption, and the perceived threat of outsiders and the working classes. Deforge, identified here as a newspaper carrier and anarchist, becomes evidence of this anxiety. Considering the materials, making, and context is essential to understand the full meaning of the artwork.