Laarzen 1940 - 1945

Johan van Hell made this image, Laarzen, from graphite on paper. The drawing shows two big boots planted right on top of a pile of shoes. It’s a bit of a strange scene. I mean, what’s going on here? It feels precarious and a little unsettling, don’t you think? You can feel the weight of those boots, the weight of the world, bearing down. Maybe Van Hell felt like he was crushing all the other shoes, all those other possibilities, under the weight of his choices? I wonder what he was thinking when he made this? Maybe he was grappling with the feeling of being overwhelmed, of being weighed down by the expectations and responsibilities. It’s like he’s saying: "I'm just trying to make my way in the world!" It's so interesting how artists, through their images, can start conversations across time.