Eugène Angèle Razoua (1830–1878) was a French soldier, journalist, writer, and member of the Paris Commune. During the Commune, he commanded the École Militaire (Military Academy), one of the insurrection's most strategically significant posts. E. Appert was a Parisian photographer known above all for his portraits of Communard figures, and this carte de visite belongs to that celebrated body of work, produced at his studio at 24, Rue Taitbout, Paris, in the early 1870s.

Razoua is depicted in a close bust-length pose, turning slightly to his left with a direct, unflinching gaze. He wears a dark sack coat over a matching waistcoat, a white linen shirt, and a loosely knotted silk bow tie. His hair is swept back from a receding hairline, and a full, neatly trimmed beard frames his jaw. The plain, seamless studio ground behind him reflects Appert's characteristic stripped-down portrait style, in which the political figure posed before a plain backdrop with no decorative setting.

Razoua served in a regiment of chasseurs à cheval and in the 3rd Regiment of Spahis in Algeria, later turning to journalism and politics alongside republican figures such as Charles Delescluze. After the fall of the Commune, he was condemned to death in absentia and took refuge in Geneva.

The front of the mount bears the imprint "E. APPERT, PHOT. / Déposé." (E. Appert, Photographer. / Registered.) and "Reproduction / interdite." (Reproduction prohibited.). The reverse carries the full studio imprint for E. Appert, Peintre Photographe, 24 Rue Taitbout, Paris, with silver medal dates of 1853, 1855, 1859, and 1867 and the designations "Photographe du Corps Législatif" (Photographer to the Legislative Assembly) and "Photographe de la Magistrature" (Photographer to the Magistracy). Inscribed in pencil on the reverse: "Razoua / Eugene Angela Razoua / (1830–1878) / gov. of Military Academy / during Paris Commune," with additional notations "3/21/07," "COFGEZ," and "Eb."