For today's #TWmemorymondays, this piece is inspired by my mom's @karenwongus' memory of her grandparents. I chatted with her for awhile today, and she told me what she remembered about the history of this photo. She started by sharing with me the customs of China in the early 1900's when this photo was taken.
Under the Qing dynasty, it was a tradition where a sign of wealth for women was small bound feet. If had a high social status, you had servants...so you didn't have to do any work...and that means you didn't have to be on your feet much. Many girls in wealthy families had their feet bound tight starting from a very young age. Their feet would be deformed in the bandage as they grew older. It was a sign of beauty and prestige. My mom said that the way having bound feet made you walk in a particular "feminine" way that was really attractive to men.
In this photo of my great grandmother, you can see she has these interesting shoes on. Back in the early 1800's and early 1900's, it was fashionable to have these tiny shoes on tiny platforms. My mom thinks that my great grandmother didn't have bound feet, but tried to disguise her feet as such - like in this photo.
Woah. Social status and the definition of femininity and beauty was powerful, and not much has changed.
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#TWmemorymondays: A painting inspired by a memory every Monday of 2018. Connecting abstract art to real life. Week 2/53. 'Bound Feet' / 8x8 in / mixed media on paper