Vissering-Ruiter of Koninginneschaats 1891 - 1955

These are the 'Vissering-Ruiter of Koninginneschaats' ice skates, and I am imagining G. Vissering making them, with various pieces of wood, metal and leather and fittings, not so different from a painting, really. I'm just fascinated by the way our bodies connect to the world through objects. These skates are so beautiful in their simplicity, like a Brancusi sculpture, all smooth curves and planes designed to slice through the ice. I'm thinking about the way they must feel on your feet, the cold seeping through the leather, the scrape of the blade against the ice. And I'm thinking about the way the body moves, the push and glide, the balance and the flow. Skating is such a visceral experience and in some ways, it reminds me of what happens when you make a painting - it's all about improvisation and physicality. These skates are like a little time capsule, a reminder of the joy and freedom of movement. I bet G. Vissering never dreamed that his skates would end up in a museum, but here they are, still inspiring awe and wonder.