Théophile Ferré, inscribed on the reverse as “Communist Ferre,” was the Blanquist militant who served as the Paris Commune’s delegate for General Security, effectively its chief of police, during the final weeks of its existence. The carte de visite was produced by E. Appert’s Paris studio at 24 Rue Taitbout.

He is shown in half length, seated, turned slightly from the camera and wearing wire-rimmed pince-nez. A dense, full beard covers his jaw and throat, and his dark hair is swept back from a high, bare forehead. He wears a dark coat with wide lapels over a waistcoat and bow tie, a watch chain visible at his buttonhole.

Elected to the Commune’s council for the 18th arrondissement on March 26, 1871, Ferré sat on the Committee of Public Safety and was named delegate for General Security on May 13. On May 24, during the final days of the Bloody Week, he signed the order authorizing the execution of six hostages held at La Roquette prison, including the Archbishop of Paris. Captured in August 1871, he refused to mount a defense at his trial and was executed by firing squad at Satory on November 28, 1871, the first Commune member put to death for his role in the uprising.

The reverse is inscribed in pencil, “Communist Ferre / Minister of War who ordered burning of Tuileries &c,” over the printed studio imprint of E. Appert, Peintre Photographe, 24 Rue Taitbout, Paris, with the archival notations “1 of 2” and “COLDEZ.”