Rodskidski. Eloi, Jean-Baptiste. 37 ans, né à Paris Xlle 13/12/56. Mécanicien. Anarchiste. 2/7/94

Art Historical Context

In the late 19th century, French forensic pioneer Alphonse Bertillon revolutionized criminal identification with his "anthropometric system," or bertillonage, combining precise body measurements with standardized photographs. This 1894 albumen silver print a glass negative captures Jean-Baptiste Eloi Rodskidski, a 37-year-old and self-identified anarchist born in Paris's 12th arrondissement. The meticulous label—detailing his age, birthplace, profession, and arrest date of July 2, 1894—exemplifies Bertillon's clinical approach, transforming mugshots into tools of science and surveillance. Taken amid France's turbulent "Age of Anarchism," marked by bombings and political unrest, this small portrait (just 10.5 x 7 cm) reflects the era's fear of radical ideologies. Bertillon's mugshots, with their front and profile views, prioritized objectivity over artistry, yet their sharp detail and intimate scale reveal the humanity of their subjects—here, a working-class man's stern gaze amid social upheaval. Today, housed in The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Gilman Collection, this photograph transcends its origins as forensic evidence. It stands as a landmark in the history of photography, bridging documentary precision with portraiture, and offering a poignant window into the criminalized faces of dissent.

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 ...