Leballeur. Jules, Léon. 29 (ou 30) ans, né à Rouissé Jassée (Sarthe). Cordonnier. Anarchiste. 1/3/94. 1894

Alphonse Bertillon made this albumen print of Jules Leballeur in France, in 1894. Bertillon developed a system of anthropometry known as "Bertillonage" to identify criminals. This mugshot reflects the late 19th-century drive to categorize and control populations. The image itself is stark, Leballeur stares directly at the camera, his expression unreadable. But what's compelling is the inscription below: "Anarchiste". In a period marked by social upheaval and the rise of anarchist movements, this label carries significant weight. Leballeur, the shoemaker, wasn't just a criminal in the eyes of the state; he was a political threat. To understand this image fully, we must delve into the historical context of anarchist movements in France and the government's efforts to suppress them. Police archives and political histories can shed light on the social conditions that shaped Leballeur's life and the institutional forces that sought to define him.