Baudart. Joseph, Philippe. 42 ans, né à Reims le 25/3/51. Boucher. Anarchiste. 15/3/94.

This is an albumen print of Joseph Philippe Baudart, made in 1894 by Alphonse Bertillon, a French police officer and biometrics researcher. Bertillon pioneered the use of photography in law enforcement. Baudart’s mugshot transcends the constraints of criminal documentation through its layered social contexts. It captures a moment of heightened political tension in France: Baudart, identified as a 42-year-old anarchist and butcher from Reims, reflects the era's anxieties around class, labor, and social dissent. As an anarchist, Baudart challenged the established order, advocating for a society free from hierarchical structures. This portrait operates on both a documentary and symbolic level, capturing Baudart's physical likeness while alluding to the sociopolitical forces shaping his identity and actions. The photograph humanizes a figure often demonized by mainstream society. It invites us to reflect on the complexities of identity, ideology, and the power dynamics inherent in systems of control and representation.