Schoenen 1751 - 1822

This print, titled 'Schoenen', meaning shoes, was made by Noach van der Meer the Younger, likely around the late 18th century, here in the Netherlands. The work depicts a range of different shoe styles in meticulous detail. But these aren't just drawings of footwear; they're a window into the social and cultural life of the time. The Dutch Republic was a major center for trade, and fashion played a crucial role in how people signalled their place in society. These shoes, with their different materials and designs, would have been worn by people from various social classes, each with their own customs. The Rijksmuseum, where this print is housed, plays a key role in preserving this history. By studying objects like these, and by consulting period documents, historians help us understand not just what people wore, but how clothing helped to shape Dutch identity and social hierarchies.