Kmflett's Blog

This picture was taken by Dutertre in Algiers on 28th April 1882 just before Marx had his beard shaved. He complained of hot weather.

Marx wrote to Engels on 28th April 1882:

Apropos; because of the sun, I have done away with my prophet’s
beard and my crowning glory but (in deference to my daughters) had
myself photographed before offering up my hair on the altar of an Al-
gerian barber. I shall receive the photographs next Sunday (30 Ap-
ril). Specimina will be sent to you from Marseille.

On 6th May 1882 he wrote to Laura Lafargue from Monte Carlo:

I enclose one photo for you, another for Fred”; no art can make the
man look worse.
Old Nick

These photographs were clearly, given the comment, of him post shave. Unfortunately they are not extant