Henri Rochefort, Marquis de Rochefort-Luçay (1831–1913), one of the most provocative journalists of nineteenth-century France, is portrayed in this albumen carte de visite by E. Appert of Paris. The three-quarter bust pose, plain studio background, and stripped-down composition reflect Appert's characteristic portrait style, in which the political figure sat before a plain backdrop without decorative setting. Appert specialized as a portraitist of political personalities across the spectrum, including sovereigns, nobles, deputies, senators, and magistrates.

Rochefort appears as a vigorous young man with a full, sweeping mustache and thick, loosely swept hair. He wears a tweed sack coat over a waistcoat, with a wide velvet collar, white turndown collar, and loosely knotted cravat. His gaze is directed off-frame to the left, giving the portrait a candid, slightly defiant energy. The mount's lower border carries the imprint "E. Appert, Phot. / Déposé" at left and "Reproduction / interdite" at right.

Rochefort's career began in 1868 with the founding of the weekly newspaper La Lanterne, which was suppressed for its outspoken opposition to Napoleon III. His open support of the revolutionary Paris Commune led to his condemnation under military law, and he was transported to the penal colony of New Caledonia in 1873, from which he escaped within four months.

Inscribed in ink on the reverse: "Henri Rochefort. / Editor of the / 'Lantern' / Paris." Pencil notations at the lower margin read "6/13/10," "LOCBA/," and "Eb."