Linkerschoen maat 35 c. 1590

This leather shoe, titled "Linkerschoen maat 35", resides in the Rijksmuseum and was crafted by an anonymous maker. The dark, worn leather immediately conveys a sense of history and use. The shoe's form is simple yet revealing. Notice the coarse stitching along the sole, a testament to its handmade construction. The perforations at the heel suggest both an attempt at ventilation and the degradation of time. The openings, cuts and general deconstruction destabilize the conventional understanding of a shoe. Shoes often function as symbols of status, gender, and identity. This shoe, stripped of its context and maker, prompts us to consider broader questions about labor, wear, and the stories objects carry. The very structure of the shoe—its material, shape, and decay—speaks to a past life, inviting endless interpretation and reflection.