Pattens c. 1936

Edward L. Loper crafted this artwork titled 'Pattens' using graphite and watercolor. The pattens here speak of a deeper narrative, one of protection and practicality, yet echoing through time, sandals carry so much more than that. Consider the sandal, an ancient form of footwear, seen in myriad forms across cultures. From the practical leather sandals of Roman soldiers, symbols of authority and movement, to the delicate, bejeweled variants worn by Egyptian royalty, emblems of status and divinity. Even Christ is often depicted in simple sandals, a symbol of humility. The very act of raising oneself above the earth, even slightly, speaks to our primal urge to rise above the mundane, to protect ourselves from the dirt and mire of earthly existence. Think of it as a symbol of the soul's journey, ever striving upwards, yet grounded by the material world. The humble patten, therefore, carries within it echoes of emperors and deities, each step resonating with the weight of history.