Sphenoeacus afer (Cape grassbird) Possibly 1777 - 1786

This delicate watercolor of a Cape grassbird was made by Robert Jacob Gordon, a Dutch explorer and military officer, in the late 18th century. The natural pigments have an inherent luminosity, allowing the artist to create a lifelike depiction of the bird and its habitat. Although seemingly straightforward, the creation of watercolor paintings involved a complex interplay of labor and resources. Raw materials like pigments were sourced globally, reflecting colonial trade networks. The paper itself would have been handmade, a labor-intensive process. Brushes, too, were carefully crafted. Consider the level of skill required to accurately capture the bird's form and plumage. Gordon would have needed a steady hand and a keen eye, not only to observe the bird in its natural habitat, but also to translate those observations onto paper. Far from being a simple depiction of a bird, this watercolor is the product of a network of materials, labor, and knowledge. It invites us to consider the relationship between art, science, and colonialism in the 18th century.