Theuriet. Jean Baptiste. 30 ans, né à Lyon. Gérant-coiffeur. Anarchiste. 2/3/94. 1894

This albumen print is one of many that were made by Alphonse Bertillon, the French criminologist who invented the mugshot. It captures Jean Baptiste Theuriet in 1894. Bertillon's work emerged during a time of anxieties about social order, class, and the perceived threats of anarchism. This photograph is more than just a record; it’s a snapshot of power, a visual manifestation of state control over the individual. Theuriet, identified not only by his name and profession as a barber, but also by his political affiliation—"anarchist"—becomes a subject of scrutiny. What does it mean to reduce a person to a set of identifiers, to define them by their perceived deviance? This image reflects societal fears of the time. Consider the emotional weight of this photograph, both for Theuriet and for us, the viewers, implicated in this act of looking. It serves as a stark reminder of the human cost of political repression.