The Art of Shoes

What makes shoes art? Is it the way they are shaped? Is it the different designs on them? Is it the way that they are worn? There are a few ways that shoes can be categorized as art. From the time that van Gogh painted his famous artwork Shoes up to now, the culture of the shoe has definitely changed. Back when van Gogh painted a pair of shoes it wasn’t to show off the fashion behind the shoe or the shoes of that time period. He painted them more so to send a message across to the viewer of the lifestyle of the people who wear those shoes. In this time in day the shoes that people wear would most likely determine the kind of lifestyle they live. But also since time periods have developed, and so have the styles of people, if a pair of shoes are painted or photographed. It is more so to show off the designs of the shoe and make people want to make it a part of their everyday fashion.

The series of pictures and paintings that I have chosen, inspired by van Gogh’s Shoes, will display the way that the art of the shoe, and art in general, has developed over time, and how the meaning of shoes then and shoes now are completely different, yet interesting.

 Grant DeVolson Wool, Old Shoes, 1926, oil on composition board, 24.8x25.4cm, Cedar Rapids Museum of Art

While observing this picture you can see that there are some similarities to that of van Gogh’s painting of Shoes. Similarities in the style of the painting, the colors, and brush strokes. Also, this painting also wasn’t painted too long after van Gogh’s, so it’s possible that there could even be some of the same meaning.  Let us also note that sense it is some years after van Gogh’s painting, the style of the shoe itself hasn’t changed much, but just enough that you can maybe conclude that they are no longer shoes of a working-class citizen, but maybe a middle-class citizen instead.

High Top Shoes, Death Valley National Park, leather, canvas, 17.8x29.2x11.4, DEVA 15724, 

This picture of High Top Shoes is very similar to the paintings of both van Gogh and DeVolson, old and high top. They look very much like shoes of a working-class citizen and very old. This is just here for a different look on them since it’s a real life picture. I think that if it’s more of a hands-on-in-the-flesh piece of art you can find more meaning in it by trying to connect with the people of that time. The style hasn’t changed much at this point.

Brendan O’Connell, Fresh Kicks, 2017

This painting is to show how the style of shoes, high top shoes to be specific, has changed from the early 20^th century to now. We’ve now moved from shoes that were displayed as art to show meaning of the type of lifestyle of working-class citizens to shoes that show the lifestyle of middle and first-class citizens. The style of shoe became very popular in the ‘80s and has since increased in popularity because of the people who wore them, and are still wearing them.

Ron Wood, United Rubber Company Keds Champion, 1916, Collection of the Bata Shoe Museum

This work of art is also not too far after van Gogh’s painting. There are similarities in that they look old and worn out, but the style of them is completely different. The main difference of this shoe is the material of it. This style of shoe is definitely not a type for working. Its more for athletic wear.

Kathy Tarantola, Nike Air Jordan I 1985, 2015, Kosow Sneaker Museum

This is the year that the style of the everyday shoe started to change and high top athletic shoes became popular because of the people who wore them; athletes. Not only did they become popular in sports, but also in hip hop in the ‘90s. And that’s when the shoe became a kind of art that is more stylish than informative. Even to this day this shoe, along with other Jordan’s and Nikes, have become very popular with the very different styles and designs