Figure 1.--A French reader tells us, "It is practicly impossible to find a image showing a poor French boy in bare foot in the 20th century." Another reader writes, "Indeed there are not a large number of pictures of barefoot French children. I did find, however, this postcard dated 1906. (It looks like 96, but the post mark is actually September 26, 1906.) The postcardIt shows a group of children watching to Puppet Theater (Punch and Judy show) in Arcachon, a village on the French coast near Bordeaux. Some of the children are barefoot. I think that in 19th and early 20th century years also poor French children, at least in sea village, go barefoot in daily life. For formal occasions as your French reader indicates, French children rarely went barefoot.

HBC has little information on France. We have noted some stahed French postcards in the early 20th century with younger boys barefoot. Other than this we have noted few instances of French boys going barefoot. French parents for some time have seen barefeet as a sign of poverty. This has continued into the modern era. As soon as one leaves the beach in France, for example, children slip on shoes or sandals. Children and teenagers wear casual shorts virtually anywhere, but always with their shoes or sandals. Even little boys at beach resorts may wear bathing suits with a tee shirt, but nornmally with sandals.

Chronology

A French reader tells us, "It is practicly impossible to find a image showing a poor French boy in bare foot in the 20th century. The exception is children art the beach or in seaside communities." Another reader writes, "Indeed there are not a large number of pictures of barefoot French children. I did find, however, this postcard dated before 1908. It shows a group of children watching to Puppet Theater in Arcachon, a village on the French coast near Bordeaux. Some of them are barefoot. I think that in 19th and early 20th century years also poor French children, at least in sea village, go barefoot in daily life. For formal occasions as your French reader indicates, French children rarely went barefoot."

Extent

HBC has little information on France. We have noted some stahed French postcards in the early 20th century with younger boys barefoot. I do not think these images are an actual reflection of how these children actually dressed. I think the barefoot poses were more designed to give the image of childish innosence and simplicity which is what attracted French people to purchase these cards. Other than this we have noted few instances of French boys going barefoot. A reader writes, "HBC is right, it is not in the French mentality to et their children without shoes, even in 20th century. For instance, a child could enter in a chuch dresssed with only short pants and T-shirt but he should have shoes. Even after difficult period following World War II, visiting a lot of villages; I don't remember having seen children without shoes. One can't imagine to enter in market without shoes, also the top of the body must have a T-shirt or something alike."

The Beach

The image here suggests that many French children were going barefoot in the early 20tyh century. A French reader tells us that this is misleading. The reason several children here are barefoot is that the postcard photograph was takennat the beach were children did commonly go barefoot as they played in the sand. The particvular beach resort here is Arcachon.

Terminology

The French term is for "going barefoot" is " Aller pieds nus ".

Impression

French parents for some time have seen barefeet as a sign of poverty. This has continued into the modern era. As soon as one leaves the beach in France, for example, children slip on shoes or sandals. Children and teenagers wear casual shorts virtually anywhere, but always with their shoes or sandals. Even little boys at beach resorts may wear bathing suits with a tee shirt, but nornmally with sandals.

Reader Comments

A French reader writes, "Without being a specialist in this question I think I may say which it is not in French mentality to leave a child with bare feet . Of course at the exception on the beach, for the bath, one child must be fitted with its shoes. A child bare feet would mean to many French parents a casual attitude toward the care of their children, if not negligence. For example many French people would feel a little pity to see a child without shoes. In the supermarkets near holiday camps there ar often signs saying that it is forbiden to enter in bare feet."

Another French reader writes, "I agree with this French reader above. Going barefoot is a sign of a deep poverty or a great lack of education . Even the children must have something on their feet, except at the beach. It is rare to see a image of a French child without shoes. This attitude seems having no changed since long time. Our mother never allowed my brother and sister and myself to go barefoot, even as very young children."

Another French reader writes, "Yes it is quite rare to see French children without any shoes. We can see some rare photograph or postcard with a child barefoot, especially early 20th century postcard. This It is only to give an innocent expression of childhood. It real life it was common only for babies. One interesting observation, before the 1950s, it was not rare to see in the street a little boy ( much more rarely the little girl ) playing in front his house or in his garden without pants, although wearing shoes or sandals. This ws even more common at the beach. of course one can see one playing at the beach , for sport or by instance waking along a river ect. Nobody thought anything of it. It is still vry common at the beach."

The barefoot images I have noted on HBC seem strange for a French person. Myself when I was a little boy I hadn't real opinion about my garments. I went along with ever my mother or my granmother chose for me, but I am sure I would have refuse to go barefoot in the street. But of course my parents would have never approved of such a thing. My mother and granmother differed somewhat as to my clothes and hair styles. My mother decided to cut a bit shorter my hairs for my 3rd birthday. My grandmother wasn't pleased and let my hair grow again much longer.