Vendel. Jules. 34 (ou 33) ans, né le 2/4/61 à Chevry (Ain). Garçon de cuisine. Anarchiste. 2/7/94. 1894

This is an albumen print made in 1894 by Alphonse Bertillon. It's one of many that Bertillon made while working for the Paris police. The albumen print process involves coating paper with egg white and silver nitrate, creating a surface that is light-sensitive. This process, which was popular in the late 19th century, yielded a sharp image with a distinctive sepia tone. Looking closely, you can see the subtle variations in tone achieved through the manipulation of light and shadow. Bertillon’s photographs are not so much fine art as documents of a new system, literally inscribed with information. The very act of photographing and cataloging individuals reflects the rise of bureaucracy and the desire to quantify and control populations. Here, photography is not a tool for artistic expression, but rather for surveillance and social control. In its own way, this points to the intimate relationship between art, technology, and the exercise of power.