Linkerschoen, maat 34, randgenaaid en met bandsluiting c. 1590 - 1596

This child’s left shoe, crafted anonymously, offers a tangible connection to the past. Its small size speaks volumes about childhood, a social construct that varies across time and cultures. Consider the labor involved in creating such an object before industrialization. Shoes were precious, often handmade, and meant to last. This particular shoe, size 34, reveals details about the child who wore it. Was the child from a wealthy family, where shoes were a sign of status? Or was this a rare luxury for a child from a working-class background? The wear and tear might tell us about the child's daily life. The simple design lacks the embellishments we often associate with historical artifacts. This absence pushes us to consider the untold stories of ordinary people, those often excluded from grand historical narratives. What does it mean to center the experience of a child, to recognize the value and complexity of their existence? In its quiet way, this shoe is a profound artifact of human experience.