The Art Of The Shoe

by Marie-Josephe Bossan

What is more ordinary than a pair of shoes? In a world where shoes have become objects of mass consumption, these accessories are now rid of any significance. The industry has accomplished its duty: producing a large quantity at a low price. But there was a time when the shoe symbolised the strength of the Roman legion, the power of the Medieval lords or the oppression of the Chinese woman. The history of the shoe is both vast and enthralling, as revealed by the author Marie-Josephe Bossan. Supporting her analysis with an outstanding iconography, the author gives these commonplace objects a universal quality that sheds light on the whole of civilisation and elevates them to the rank of works of art.

272 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2004

Reviews

[Jane Peyton · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a shoe obsessive this book was the most satisfying reading experience. It is a big glossy coffee table tome with images of exquisite shoes . The author is the curator of the International Shoe Museum in France (one of the world's greatest collections) so the book covers shoe history, culture, and symbolism. I loved it.