Birds

Simon Schama delves into our timeless captivation with birds in a breathtaking art book. He notes how no other creatures have so thoroughly captivated our relentless imaginations as birds, their allure being immortalized in various forms of art, from paintings and sculptures to films. The book, co-authored with Mauritshuis director Martine Gosselink, investigates the intriguing connection between humans and birds through the lenses of art, literature, and cultural history. Iconic artworks such as Carel Fabritius's renowned "Goldfinch," Picasso's "Dove," and Brancusi's "Bird in Space" are featured alongside an Egyptian falcon mummy and a feather dress by Iris van Herpen, offering a rich tapestry of bird imagery spanning centuries.Moreover, readers are treated to a delightful anthology of bird stories from classic texts like "The Epic of Gilgamesh" and "One Thousand and One Nights," complemented by bird-themed poems from literary figures such as Rabindranath Tagore, Ted Hughes, Bob Marley, and Rumi. The book includes contributions from notable individuals including Simon Schama, Martine Gosselink, Laura Cumming, Stefan Hertmans, Philip Hoare, Eva Meijer, and Adrienne Quarles van Ufford. This compelling volume is released in conjunction with the "BIRDS" exhibition curated by Simon Schama and The Goldfinch, held at the Mauritshuis in The Hague from February 12 to June 7, 2026.