The shoe in art

Shoes in art since ancient Greece and Rome. While they primarily serve a protective function for the foot, they are also subject to changing fashions and possess strong symbolic meaning.

Thus, bespoke shoes for men are considered a sign of professional success, and boots can symbolize male dominance and power. Women's boots, on the other hand, are associated with sexual desire and female dominance.

High heels are associated with eroticism, but also express a sense of confinement and bondage, because a woman cannot run away in such shoes. In many fairy tales and stories, the shoe is even attributed with magical powers.

Therefore, the shoe is given the respect it deserves here as an art object.

Sandals of Apollo and Aphrodite

The first known work in which the shoe is the central art object is seen in the ancient marble sculpture of the nude “Apollo Belvedere” . It was discovered at the end of the 15th century in Nero's Villa near Rome.

The statue is a copy of a Greek bronze work from the 4th century BC, attributed to the sculptor Leochares

The footwear is the main focus of the sculpture. The straps appear so delicate and elegant that it seems as if the sandals were made for the feet – and the feet for the sandals.

In Greek mythology, the relationship between the gods Hermes and Aphrodite revolves around their sandals. Because of his unrequited love for the goddess of sensuality, Hermes asked his father Zeus for help. Zeus sent an eagle to steal Aphrodite's sandals. To get them back, Aphrodite had to submit to Hermes.

Even more famous is the sculpture “Eros and Pan,” from the 1st century BC. Today it is housed in the National Archaeological Museum in Athens. It depicts a scene in which the shepherd god Pan attempts to make indecent advances toward Aphrodite. She then raises her sandal to ward off his advances.

Arnolfini's half-shoes

Even in the painting “The Arnolfini Wedding” by the Flemish painter Jan van Eyck from 1434, shoes a deeper symbolism. In this case, the shoes have been removed and placed to the side, so that the bridal couple stands barefoot on the floorboards.

In doing so, the artist refers to the Old Testament, in which the ground is holy during the marriage vows and may only be entered barefoot.

High heels as an art object

The history of high heels originates with the ancient Egyptians. Butchers of that era wore heels to avoid sinking in blood. Mongolian horsemen also used high-heeled shoes to gain a better grip in the stirrups. During the reign of Catherine de' Medici (1519-1589), shoes with heels of up to 50 cm sparked a fashion boom .

Then high heels faded from public view. It wasn't until the early 1920s that Marlene Dietrich reappeared in public wearing them. To this day, they remain an object that continues to inspire artists of various styles

The effect of high heels

The vertical extension of a woman's foot is interpreted as a signal of female sexual arousal. Measurements show that the curvature of a woman's buttocks increases by 25% when she wears high heels.

Many opinions go so far as to say that high heels transform an ordinary woman into a seductress. To this day, a low-cut high shoe that makes the wearer appear to float gently above the ground remains one of the most alluring motifs in art.

The appeal to the viewer

Many art objectsthat depict only a shoe deliberately neglect the corresponding body. This leaves it to the viewer's imagination to envision the scene or the person to whom the shoe belongs and to engage with the image.

This explores the allure of the invisible . It evokes emotions that develop narratives in the brain, narratives that exist solely in the subconscious. The viewer's attraction lies in the desire to continually discover something more within the artwork.

Joachim Rodriguez y Romero

Owner and Managing Director of Kunstplaza . Publicist, editor, and passionate blogger in the fields of art, design, and creativity since 2011. Graduated with a degree in web design from university (2008). Further developed creative techniques through courses in freehand drawing, expressive painting, and theatre/acting. Profound knowledge of the art market gained through years of journalistic research and numerous collaborations with key players and institutions in the arts and culture sector.

www.kunstplaza.de