Child's Boot c. 1940

LeRoy Griffith painted this watercolor of a child's boot. The boot, a symbol of journey and protection, carries deep cultural weight, echoing the Roman caliga, a soldier's boot, itself a marker of conquest and readiness. Across time, footwear has denoted status and identity. Consider the humble sandal evolving into elaborate platforms of the Renaissance, each step declaring one's place in the world. Here, the child's boot is worn and scuffed, less about status, more about early adventures, of innocence lost. The boot’s solitude evokes a sense of longing. Its emptiness suggests narratives of growth and change. The collective memory of childhood, with its blend of joy and vulnerability, engages us, inviting reflection on our own passage through life. This is not just a boot; it's a vessel of unspoken stories.