Rey. Claude. 23 ans, né le 24/5/70 au Creusot (Saone & Loire). Ébéniste. Anarchiste. 12/3/94.

Art Historical Context

In the late 19th century, French criminologist Alphonse Bert revolutionized forensic science with his "anthropometric system," a methodical approach to criminal identification that paired precise body measurements with standardized photographs. This 1894 albumen silver print a glass negative captures Claude Rey, a 23-year-old cabinetmakerébéniste) from Creusot in Saône-et-Loire,ly labeled as an "Anarchiste." Taken on March 12, 1894, amid France's turbulent era of anarchist unrest—including bombings and political assassinations—it exemplifies Bertillon's mugshot technique: a small, clinical portrait (10.5 x 7 cm) designed for archival precision rather than artistic flourish. Bertillon's images transcend mere documentation, marking a pivotal moment in photography's evolution from art to science. The albumen process, using egg whites to bind silver salts on glass negatives, yielded exceptional clarity and detail, ideal for capturing subtle facial features used in identification. Rey's somber gaze and the meticulous inscription humanize a man caught in the era's ideological fervor, where anarchism challenged industrial society. Displayed today in The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Gilman Collection, this photograph invites reflection on the intersection of criminal justice, social upheaval, and photographic innovation. (198 words)

About the Artist

Alphonse Bertillon · 1853–1914

Alphonse Bertillon (1853–1914) was a pioneering French photographer whose work revolutionized forensic documentation, transforming police identification into a precise visual science. Born in Paris on April 22, 1853, he was the son of medical professor and statistician Louis-Adolphe Bertillon and the younger brother of demographer Jacques Bertillon. Lacking formal higher education after expulsion ...