Man toont zijn nieuwe schoenen uit Parijs 1847

Rombertus Julianus van Arum created this print, "Man toont zijn nieuwe schoenen uit Parijs", featuring two men in formal attire, using etching techniques. The stark contrast of black ink on white paper accentuates the meticulous detail in their clothing, and the texture of the etching adds depth to the otherwise flat surface. The composition is divided between the two figures, one presenting his Parisian shoes with a cane, the other observing. Here, the act of display and observation becomes a semiotic exchange, a performance of value and taste within their social context. We can interpret the shoes as signifiers of status, and the act of showing them off as a ritual of social affirmation. Van Arum uses the formal qualities of line and form to construct a narrative about fashion, class, and cultural exchange. The etching's visual language suggests a coded interaction, emphasizing how objects mediate our relationships and performances of identity.