Balearica regulorum (Grey crowned crane) Possibly 1777 - 1786

This sensitive study of Grey Crowned Cranes was made with watercolor and ink on paper by Robert Jacob Gordon in the late 18th century. A practiced hand was needed to mix washes of color just so, and apply them with precision to describe the birds’ plumage. Notice how Gordon used hatching and cross-hatching – tiny, closely spaced parallel lines – to describe the texture of the crane’s feathers. It’s painstaking work, requiring hours of intense focus. This technique, common in both drawing and engraving, allows for subtle gradations of tone and a remarkable level of detail. Gordon wasn’t just an artist, but a military man and explorer, working for the Dutch East India Company. His drawings were scientific instruments, recording the natural world encountered during expeditions. The intense labor involved speaks to the intersection of artistic skill, scientific observation, and colonial enterprise. It reminds us that even the most beautiful image can be tied to wider social and political dynamics.