Emmanuel Arago (1812–1896) was a French politician who served across the Second Republic, the Second Empire, and the Third Republic, and this albumen carte-de-visite portrait, made by the celebrated Parisian studio of Ch. Reutlinger, captures him in a confident three-quarter pose against a plain tonal ground. Reutlinger was the founder of one of the most prominent Parisian photographic establishments, a studio that became famous for its portraits of artists, musicians, and political figures of the period. The image dates to Reutlinger's active tenure, prior to his handing the studio to his brother Emile in 1880.

Arago is shown wearing a dark sack coat over a buttoned waistcoat, with a loosely knotted cravat at the open collar and a tassel-tipped cord hanging at the left hand. His dark hair is full and wavy, swept back from a broad forehead, and he wears a neatly trimmed mustache and chin beard. A folded paper or document is tucked into the waistband at his right hip, lending the portrait a casually authoritative air.

A deputy and senator for more than half a century, Arago was an opponent of monarchy and Empire and is considered a founding father of the Third Republic, serving also as a diplomat, lawyer, minister, and unsuccessful candidate for the presidency. He was the son of the celebrated astronomer and statesman François Arago.

The recto of the mount bears the imprint "CH. REUTLINGER, PHOT" at the top border, with "Déposé" at lower left and "Garanti d'apres nature" ("Guaranteed from life") at lower right. The verso carries the printed studio imprint "Photographie Thiébault / 31 Boulevard Bonne Nouvelle, 31 / en face le Théâtre du Gymnase / Bacard Fils / Gendre & Successeur" ("Thiébault Photography / 31 Boulevard Bonne Nouvelle, 31 / opposite the Théâtre du Gymnase / Bacard Fils / Son-in-law and Successor"), indicating the mount was supplied or redistributed by a secondary Paris studio. Inscribed in pencil at the top of the verso: "Emmanuel Arago (1812–1896) / French Politician / Passionate Republican." A catalog notation reading "3/13/07 CDLDX2 Eb" appears at the lower left.