Birds in the Barnes Foundation

by Julie Steiner

A playful room-by-room "bird-watching" guide to the Albert C. Barnes galleries. Rumor has it that Dr. Barnes put a bird in every room of his famed collection. But is this really true, and if so, why? The Barnes Foundation collection offers an astounding array of art, focusing on post-impressionist and early modern Renoir, Cézanne, Picasso, and Matisse. However, interspersed among these notable greats is a different kind of collection that incorporates folk art, pottery, furniture, and ironwork from cultures around the world. The instructional collection is built around a philosophy of individual interpretation, and following the birds from one room to another offers you an accessible starting point for uncovering the educational methods Dr. Barnes used to encourage students to look at art. This lighthearted tour weaves art, history, and lessons on the collection into a delightful search for birds hiding in the gallery.

160 pages, Hardcover

Published April 28, 2020

Reviews

[Kirsten · Rating 5 out of 5]

Visiting the Barnes Foundation several years ago was such a unique experience, that I haven't stopped thinking about it since. And so I was so happy to find this book -- reading through it was like getting my own personal tour.

This book, with its gorgeous photography, offers a glimpse into each gallery in sequential order, just as you would experience it in person. I learned about Dr. Barnes' (the museum's founder) unique approach to art collecting, and how he used juxtaposition to encourage new ways of looking at and interpreting art. The author gives just the right amount of context and history at each point along the way, and she highlights connections between artworks that aren't immediately obvious.

The main premise of the book is to explore the rumor that Dr. Barnes placed a bird in each gallery. I thought it was a fun idea, but expected the answer to be a straightforward yes or no. I absolutely loved that it turned out to be a lot more complicated. Not only do I think "bird hunting" is great way to start looking deeper into the Barnes' vast collection, it's also a lot of fun to debate. What exactly counts as a bird in art? I have my own opinions now, but I keep wondering what Dr. Barnes really intended.

Although I got this book well after the fact, this book was the perfect belated souvenir from my visit -- and a great way to scratch my art museum itch until I can visit the Barnes (or any museum) again. Recommended for any art lover.

[Tia Bianchini · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is simply charming. The Barnes galleries can be intimidating to the first time visitor because each wall features "ensembles" of paintings, metalwork, furniture, sculpture, and even jewelry. This book takes you through the galleries on a bird-watching tour and calls out details and works that may have been overlooked in person. It also touches on the unique presentation of the ensembles, and engages the reader to appreciate art at a slower pace. There's a rumor that Dr. Barnes (the art collector responsible for arranging the ensembles) included a bird in each room, and the author has a lot of fun with this theme and finds unexpected ways to follow the lore. I also appreciated that many of the birds are not just found in paintings, but also as decorative elements on furniture or pottery, and even in sculpture. The writing was easy to read and accessible for all art-lovers, regardless of their familiarity with art history. I loved this book so much that I purchased it as a gift for a loved one that was unable to visit the galleries, and she also enjoyed this playful approach to seeing/appreciating art in all its forms.

[Handanbao · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's much more than birds. Bird is a thread that strings together the methods and ideas that make Barnes unique, uniquely interesting but also uniquely challenging. You don't have to be a bird lover to be charmed by the playful insights of Julie, arranged into such pleasant formats. The quality of print is satisfying, too.

Now I must disclose my bias. I'm going through training at Barnes to qualify as a volunteer docent. After many assigned readings and books/papers that came recommended by teachers and docents, I was overjoyed to come across this one. The language is so clear and accessible. Vast spans of eras and cultures are compared and contrasted in coherent ways. It takes a real educator to turn the complex into simple terms. This task is by no means simple. I am grateful for Julie Steiner's work. It gives me many inspirations and quotables for the mock tours that I'm putting together.

Especially good for those usually intimidated by art, this book may also be of great interest to readers already well-versed in the language of art.