Boot 1938

Eugene Miller made this boot painting, we don’t know when or exactly with what, but it is on paper and appears to be watercolour. And I love how the boot has been rendered through these subtle washes of brown pigment. It looks worn, slouching, as though it might have been discarded. Did Miller find it? Did it belong to him? I can almost feel the artist, perched over this, patiently layering browns to build the form of the boot. He focuses on the gradations in the leather, the way the light reflects off of it, pooling in some parts, fading in others. The shadows cast by its folds give it a three-dimensional presence. It reminds me of Morandi’s quiet still lives, or even Van Gogh’s worn-out shoes. There is a feeling for me that making art is all about seeing something of beauty or interest in overlooked everyday objects. It’s about seeing the magic and potential, and paying attention to the shapes all around us.