Woman's Slippers c. 1936

Curator: My first thought? Delicate strength. The forms are so clean, so poised. They almost seem to float on the paper, even though they're renderings of something so…grounded. Editor: Indeed. We’re looking at "Woman’s Slippers," a mixed-media work dating back to around 1936 by Lillian Causey. It’s quite interesting, actually, thinking about the socio-political role shoes have played throughout history and continue to do. Curator: Shoes can definitely whisper stories! These look more like the quiet secrets of a boudoir than the thunder of marching feet, though. Editor: Perhaps, or the quiet anticipation of an evening out dancing. Think of the social constraints of women in the 30s: dress codes, gender roles, expectations of etiquette. Something like this becomes a potent symbol. How does one navigate social structures or push the boundaries while conforming superficially? These delicate slippers could represent quiet rebellion. Curator: That's fascinating, that friction. The shades of rose, how the light plays on them…It feels like there is longing imbued in these objects. As though there is an actual person connected. What draws you to it as an art historian? Editor: For me, it's the intersection of fashion and identity during a period of great social change. Shoes, especially for women, were—and in many ways continue to be—highly curated markers of class, aspiration, and even rebellion. These slippers tell a visual story. It makes one reflect on agency. Do we actively select clothing for social interactions or for something that allows agency and individualism? Curator: It is such a poignant question, isn't it? Maybe these slippers knew more adventures than they let on. It seems impossible to deny the potent connection, something both playful and melancholy at once, even after the initial construction and objective role is finished. Editor: Yes, Lillian Causey seems to be asking questions about identity. This seemingly simple sketch encapsulates a history and hints at future, still. It's in their design, their presentation, their very… being, which manages to exist far beyond just that singular point in time.