Our favorite fetish photographer Va-nu-pieds, aka The Barefoot Photographer, went out for some last-minute Christmas shoe shopping in Paris but they wouldn’t let him into the store with naked soles.
Never mind.
He went window shopping instead.
Imagine his surprise when he came upon a shop that sold leather accessories for the feet.
What an odd concept he thought, and he took a picture.
If he were to accessorize at all he might shop at this digit decorating shop:
But they wouldn’t allow him inside either.
So he stepped into a world where shoes weren’t required,
and from there he sent us these photographs with best wishes for merry trekking and travels in the coming year.
Hi Gary,
Maybe I am dense, but I don”t understand this Va-nu-pieds thingy. Is he trying to make a statement of some kind with just this part of his foot showing? Is this art? Or what?
Bill
Hi Bill,
Not understanding or appreciating the work of Va-nu-pieds’ photography certainly does not mean that you’re dense. You are not alone in wondering what place his work has on France Revisited.
Here’s one way to think about this work: You’re undoubtedly familiar with that thingy where someone stretches his arm out to take a picture of his smiling face in front of a landscape or monument. What’s up with that?
I see VNP’s work as a study of the pedestrian’s and traveler’s relationship with place, a recurrent theme on France Revisited. Does that make it art “or what?” I leave the question in the air.
You can read VNP’s description of the original motivation for his barefoot photography in the introductory post about his work found here: https://francerevisited.com/2009/11/introducing-va-nu-pieds-the-barefoot-photographer/
Gary
Hi Gary,
I also see VNP’s work as a study of pedestrian’s & travelers’ relationship with place.
And I really appreciate it.