Roobin. Joseph. 40 ans, né à Bourgneuf (Loire-Inférieure). Terrassier. Anarchiste. 2/3/94

Art Historical Context

In 1894, French forensic pioneer Alphonse Bertillon captured this stark portrait of Joseph Roobin a 40-year-oldassier (earthworker from Bourgneuf in Loire-Inférieure, simply as an "Anarchiste." Part of Bertillon's groundbreaking anthropometric system—known as "Bertillonnage"—the image served as official police identification during a turbulent era in France. The 1890s saw heightened fears of anarchist violence, including bombings and assassinations under the banner of "propaganda of the deed," making such mugshots crucial tools for tracking political radicals like Roobin. Bertillon, chief of the Paris Prefecture of Police's Identification Service, revolutionized criminology with standardized frontal and profile photographs paired with precise body measurements. This small albumen silver print from a glass negative (10.5 x 7 cm) exemplifies his clinical precision: sharp details, neutral background, and meticulous labeling convey both scientific objectivity and human vulnerability. Though created for surveillance, these images transcend utility, offering poignant glimpses into lives on society's margins. Today, housed in The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Gilman Collection, Roobin's portrait highlights the intersection of photography, policing, and politics, reminding us how 19th-century innovations shaped modern forensics—and the ethics of visual documentation.

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 ...