List of barefooters

Last updated
Isadora Duncan performing barefoot during her 1915-1918 American tour Isadora Duncan (grayscale).jpg
Isadora Duncan performing barefoot during her 1915–1918 American tour

This is a list of notable barefooters, real and fictional; notable people who are known for going barefoot as a part of their public image, and whose barefoot appearance was consistently reported by media or other reliable sources, or depicted in works of fiction dedicated to them.

Contents

A barefoot appearance can be a notable characteristic for an individual, as it has been associated with various cultural contexts throughout human history. In Ancient Greece, philosophers like Socrates and Diogenes adopted a barefoot lifestyle, and since the Middle Ages, it was seen as a sign of religious ascetism. In particular, discalceation, the practice of going constantly barefoot or clad only in sandals, is a common feature of Christian mendicant orders, practiced by the Discalced Carmelites (1568), the Feuillant Cistercians (1575), the Trinitarians (1594), the Mercedarians (1604), the Passionists, the Poor Clares and Colettine Poor Clares, and the Descalzas Reales. This is undertaken as part of vows of poverty and humility, [1] as well as a remembrance of Moses on Mount Sinai. Hindu gurus go barefoot to allow their followers to demonstrate their love and respect by pranam, the ceremonial touching of a bare foot. It is also customary in Judaism and some Christian denominations to go barefoot while mourning. [1]

The early 20th century saw the emergence of the barefoot dance movement, pioneered by Isadora Duncan, that anticipated women's liberation movement and challenged the then prevalent perception of bare foot as obscene. [2] In the latter half of the 20th century, many singers, primarily women, have performed barefoot, a trend that continues in the early 21st century.

Since the 1960s, barefooting has also been associated with counterculture, in particular with the hippie and New Age movements. [3] [4] A July 1967 Time magazine study on hippie philosophy credited the foundation of the hippie movement with historical precedent dating back to the aforementioned religious and spiritual figures of the ancient times, including Diogenes and the sadhu of India. [5]

Nowadays people who have a preference for not wearing shoes in public are striving for the recognition of barefoot lifestyle, against the social stigma associated with barefooting, and for the abolition of laws and regulations that prohibit going barefoot in certain places. [6] [7] [8] In particular, in the 2020s, it became a trend among celebrities to appear barefoot in public, a tendency reinforced by TikTok. [9] [10] [11] [12] [13]

Notable barefooters

Religion, spirituality, and philosophy

Saint Kevin of Glendalough, depicted barefoot with a blackbird in his hand in a miniature of an Irish codex, ca. 9th or 10th cent. Kevin-black.jpg
Saint Kevin of Glendalough, depicted barefoot with a blackbird in his hand in a miniature of an Irish codex, ca. 9th or 10th cent.
Johnny Appleseed, as depicted in an illustration to <<A History of the Pioneer and Modern Times of Ashland County>> (1862) Johnny Appleseed 1.jpg
Johnny Appleseed, as depicted in an illustration to «A History of the Pioneer and Modern Times of Ashland County» (1862)
Vasily the Barefoot with the project of a new temple in the village of Nadezhda. Vasilii Bosonogii.png
Vasily the Barefoot with the project of a new temple in the village of Nadezhda.

Arts and entertainment

Thamara de Swirsky, from a 1910 publication Thamara de Swirsky 1910.tif
Thamara de Swirsky, from a 1910 publication
Statue of Voldemars Irbe in Riga, depicted disheveled and barefoot in accordance with his real-life appearance as 'Barefoot Irbite' Centrs, Centra rajons, Riga, Latvia - panoramio (14).jpg
Statue of Voldemārs Irbe in Riga, depicted disheveled and barefoot in accordance with his real-life appearance as 'Barefoot Irbite'
A barefoot sculpture of Cesaria Evora at the eponymous airport in Mindelo, Cabo Verde Cesaria Evora sculpture.jpg
A barefoot sculpture of Cesária Évora at the eponymous airport in Mindelo, Cabo Verde
Joss Stone performing barefoot on stage Joss Stone 08 (8132151434).jpg
Joss Stone performing barefoot on stage
Taimane Gardner performing barefoot Taimane Gardner (5702552806).jpg
Taimane Gardner performing barefoot
Steven Wilson performing barefoot at a 2016 music festival in Freiburg Steven Wilson (ZMF 2016) jm63933.jpg
Steven Wilson performing barefoot at a 2016 music festival in Freiburg

Businesspeople

Barefoot sculpture of Mark Zuckerberg at the Madame Tussauds wax museum Cleaning Up after Zuck.jpg
Barefoot sculpture of Mark Zuckerberg at the Madame Tussauds wax museum

Other

Wojciech Cejrowski, the host of the travel show "Barefoot Around the World". Cejrowski.JPG
Wojciech Cejrowski, the host of the travel show "Barefoot Around the World".

Fictional characters

Bare feet are a consistent element in the depiction of some fictional characters.

Anime and manga

Books

Esmeralda depicted barefoot in the theatrical poster for the 1923 movie The Hunchback of Notre Dame The Hunchback of Notre Dame (theatrical poster, 1923).jpg
Esmeralda depicted barefoot in the theatrical poster for the 1923 movie The Hunchback of Notre Dame
Tom Sawyer, as depicted in the front piece of the first edition of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (1876) Tom Sawyer 1876 frontispiece.jpg
Tom Sawyer, as depicted in the front piece of the first edition of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (1876)
A monument to Momo in Hanover Momo Figuur Hannover.jpg
A monument to Momo in Hanover

Comics

Film

TV series

Video Games

Notes

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Bibliography