Gustave Flourens, born in Paris on 4 August 1838 and killed on 3 April 1871, was a French Revolutionary leader and writer of considerable consequence, portrayed here in a carte-de-visite produced at the Parisian studio of Eugène Thiébault. In 1868, Paul Bacard, Thiébault's son-in-law, installed himself at the Boulevard Bonne-Nouvelle address and signed his photographs "Photographie Thiébault, Bacard fils, successeur," placing this CDV between 1868 and Flourens's death in April 1871.

Flourens stands three-quarter length against a plain studio ground, dressed in a dark military-style double-breasted coat bearing two rows of large metal buttons and broad lapels, with a kepi-style peaked cap striped in light banding across the crown. Three horizontal gold-braid sleeve stripes mark the cuffs as officer rank, and white gloves dress both hands as they rest crossed over the hilt and guard of a sheathed sword held vertically before him. A full, well-trimmed beard frames his direct, level gaze toward the camera.

As an academic, Flourens wrote distinguished works including *Histoire de l'homme* (1863), *Ce qui est possible* (1864), and *Science de l'homme* (1865). He took part in the Cretan insurrection of 1866 to 1868 and was chosen for a difficult mission to Athens on behalf of the Cretan Revolutionary Assembly. He joined the Paris Commune on 18 March 1871, was elected a member by the 20th arrondissement, and named colonel; he was killed in a sortie against Versailles troops at Rueil, near Malmaison, on 3 April 1871.

The reverse bears a printed imprint reading "Photographie Thiébault / 31 Boulevard Bonne Nouvelle, 31 / en face le théâtre du Gymnase" (Thiébault Photography / 31 Boulevard Bonne Nouvelle, 31 / opposite the Gymnase Theatre), with "Bacard Fils / Gendre & Successeur" (Bacard Son / Son-in-Law & Successor) below. An ink inscription in a later hand reads "Gustave Flourens (1838–1871) / French Revolutionary leader / and Writer," with a dealer notation "3/13/07 LOGHEZ Eb" at the lower margin.