Charles-Ernest Lullier (1838–1891) is portrayed in this albumen carte de visite, photographed by E. Appert in Paris circa 1871. Appert was a Parisian photographer accredited to the Tribunal de la Seine who photographed Communards incarcerated in Versailles for use in his celebrated series of portraits. The imprint on the mount's recto reads "E. Appert, Phot. Expert. Déposé" alongside the notice "Reproduction interdite," consistent with Appert's practice of copyrighting his political portrait work.

Lullier is shown in a three-quarter pose, his gaze directed sharply off to his left, conveying a restless and forceful bearing. He wears a dark double-breasted frock coat over a white ruffled shirt, with a loosely knotted cravat at the throat. His thick, light-colored hair rises in an unruly wave, and a full walrus mustache frames his upper lip. The plain toned studio backdrop places all emphasis on the sitter.

Born on 28 April 1838 at Mirecourt in the Vosges, Lullier was a naval officer who played an important military role in the early days of the Commune. He served as commander-in-chief of the National Guard and was condemned to death by the Third Council of War on 2 September 1871; his sentence was commuted to hard labor in perpetuity, and he was deported to the penal colony of Île Nou.

The reverse bears the full E. Appert studio imprint at 24, Rue Taitbout, Paris, with the designations "Photographe du Corps Législatif" and "Photographe de la Magistrature," along with four silver medal vignettes dated 1853, 1855, 1859, and 1867. The name "Lullier" appears in pencil at the top of the reverse and is repeated in ink script at the bottom of the printed imprint.