Chinese Eroticism and Foot Binding in Paris Shoe Exhibition

Catherine Millet's final episode of 'Prenez votre pied' explores the eroticism of Chinese foot binding within the exhibition 'Marche et démarche, une histoire de la chaussure' at the Musée des arts décoratifs in Paris, on view until February 23, 2020. The exhibition traces the evolution of footwear across time and continents, but Millet argues its success stems from erotic curiosity rather than anthropological interest. A special 'enfer' section, akin to the Bibliothèque nationale's restricted area, displays tiny shoes worn by Chinese women with bound feet, alongside plaster casts revealing the twisted toes. Millet connects this to Georges Bataille's essay on the big toe, which distinguishes humans from apes and symbolizes the tension between elevation and ignominy. A 19th-century Chinese erotic painting shows a nude woman masturbating her partner with her atrophied feet, prompting Millet to question Bataille's potential interpretation. The exhibition also features a shoe belonging to Marie-Antoinette, known for her exceptionally small feet, and Neil Armstrong's moon boot, though the poster highlights red and black boots from Buñuel's film.