Pump van blauwzwart krokodillenleer c. 1939

Curator: This striking photograph, titled "Pump van blauwzwart krokodillenleer," or "Pump of Blue-Black Crocodile Leather," was captured by A. van Goethem around 1939 and resides here at the Rijksmuseum. It’s a compelling example of still-life fashion photography. Editor: My initial reaction? Pure glamour with an undercurrent of something slightly sinister. That sleek, almost weapon-like shape rendered in that reptile skin. It’s intriguing. Curator: Indeed. Think about the socio-economic implications here. Crocodile skin, even simulated, represents luxury and status. To produce these would have meant specific labor practices and access to materials – often at the expense of both people and the environment. Editor: Absolutely, this photograph functions almost as an advertisement, reinforcing a societal value placed on expensive materials and a specific, likely unattainable, image of feminine elegance. But what about the context of 1939? Looming war, shifting social roles… does that feed into the sinister element I sense? Curator: I think that’s astute. The late 1930s were a period of intense social and political tension. Fashion, like all cultural artifacts, both reflected and resisted these anxieties. These shoes project an image of steely, almost impenetrable glamour, perhaps offering a form of psychological armor in uncertain times. Also note how such images become iconic with the rise of department stores and visual media. Editor: And beyond the surface glamour, consider the ethics of displaying such objects today. Are we critically examining the histories embedded in these luxury goods? Or are we simply perpetuating their symbolic power without reflection? I wonder how our visitors, confronted with this picture, understand the story behind the photograph and the pump itself. Curator: It challenges us, doesn’t it, to unpack the complexities of production, desire, and historical context interwoven in even the simplest of still-life images. We have to use the image's visual draw to prompt meaningful dialogue about social and material implications. Editor: Precisely. Looking at it now, it's more than just a shoe. It’s a lens through which to see a world of desires, inequalities, and the quiet anxieties of a bygone era.