‘WALK THIS WAY’ OPENS SEPT. 27 AT MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS, BOSTON

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BOSTON, MASS. — “Walk This Way” will be on view at The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, September 27–March 23.

The Museum of Fine Arts holds one of the most important collections of historic footwear in the United States. From ancient Nubian sandals to new acquisitions representing the best in contemporary design, it provides a rich source for exploring the shoe and its cultural significance.

The format of “Walk This Way,” unlike any shoe exhibition seen in the past, will juxtapose approximately 25 shoes, some individually and some in pairs, with MFA works of art in a variety of media.

Examples include a pair of wedges with rococo carved heels from the current Miu Miu collection exhibited with Eighteenth Century carved furniture; a pair of Seventeenth Century slap-soled shoes exhibited with a genre painting by the Dutch artist Eglon van der Neer, in which a man wears a similar style; and a platformed Venetian chopine shown next to Canaletto’s “Bacino di San Marco.”

These provocative juxtapositions, placed as in a treasure hunt throughout the museum’s galleries, will provide insights into the history, ornamentation and cultural importance of footwear.

The museum is at 465 Huntington Avenue. For information, www.mfa.org or 617-267-9300.