Napoléon Gaillard, known as "Gaillard père," was born in Nîmes on June 7, 1815, a French shoemaker who rose to a commanding role during the Paris Commune of 1871. This carte-de-visite portrait was made by Ch. Reutlinger, the German-born Paris photographer who founded a studio specializing in portraits of Parisian notables. Reutlinger received first prize at the Paris Exposition Universelle of 1867, and this CDV dates to the Commune period, circa 1871.

Gaillard is shown in a bust-length vignette portrait, wearing a dark frock coat over a waistcoat with visible buttons, a white dress shirt with a spread collar, and a patterned cravat. His dark hair is swept loosely back, and he carries a heavy drooping mustache. His gaze is turned slightly downward and to the left, lending the image a pensive, downcast intensity. The plain, evenly lit ground behind him keeps all attention on the subject's face and bearing.

Rossel gave full authority to Napoléon Louis Gaillard, known as Gaillard père, who led the Barricades Commission during the Paris Commune. He oversaw the erection of a monumental barricade at the Place de la Concorde during the Commune, nicknamed "Château Gaillard" for its imposing scale. He later ended his days as a concierge in the 2nd arrondissement of Paris, dying on October 16, 1900, at the age of eighty-five.

The reverse bears the printed imprint of Photographie Thiébault, Bacard Fils, Gendre et Successeur, 51 Boulevard Bonne Nouvelle, en face du Théâtre du Gymnase, Paris. Inscribed in pencil at the upper reverse: "Gaillard père / chef des barricades" ("Gaillard père / chief of the barricades"). The recto mount is imprinted at the lower center "Ch. Reutlinger, Phot." with the notations "Déposé" at lower left and "Garanti d'après nature" (guaranteed from life) at lower right.