Damesschoen van zwart leer versierd met zwart reptielleer en opstaande klep op de wreef c. 1940 - 1950

H.J. van Gaver made these shoes out of black leather and reptile leather. When I look at these shoes, I start to think about the act of walking itself, the gesture of moving through space. I imagine the maker carefully selecting each piece of leather, feeling its texture, and considering how it will shape the final form. There’s something very tactile about these shoes. I can almost feel the weight of the leather in my hands, see the traces of the tools that shaped it, and smell the distinct aroma of the material. The texture of the reptile leather is interesting. And what about the person who wore them? How did they feel when they put them on? The material and form speak to the body and its movement. In a way, these shoes aren’t just objects. They’re a vessel for memory and imagination. It’s like we are always speaking across time with one another.