Three Pairs of Shoes
1886 Fogg Museum
About this artwork
This still life depicts three pairs of worn, utilitarian shoes arranged on a neutral background. Van Gogh painted several still lifes featuring shoes, often exploring themes of labor and peasant life.
Did you know?
Vincent van Gogh's 'Shoes' series has fascinated art historians and philosophers alike, notably inspiring Martin Heidegger's essay 'The Origin of the Work of Art'. Heidegger pondered whether the shoes belonged to a peasant woman or the artist, using them as a starting point to discuss the essence of art and its connection to truth and the human condition. The simple subject matter thus opens up profound philosophical inquiry.
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Three Pairs of Shoes
Vincent van Gogh, 1886
