Man of the Khoikhoi with an ox-horn pipe in his hand Possibly 1777 - 1786

This delicate drawing of a Khoikhoi man, a member of an indigenous group in Southwestern Africa, was made by Robert Jacob Gordon in the late 18th century using ink and watercolor on paper. The artist employs traditional drawing materials, but what makes this image so compelling is what it tells us about cultural exchange. Gordon has meticulously depicted the man's adornments - beaded jewelry, a distinctive pipe, and an elaborate cloak fringed with what appears to be animal hide or feathers. Each of these carries its own cultural and material history. Consider the time and skill required to produce these items; the labor involved in beadwork, the artistry in crafting the pipe, and the significance of the animal skin used for the cloak. Gordon's drawing isn't just a portrait; it's a document of the ingenuity and material culture of the Khoikhoi people. It invites us to see the artistry inherent in everyday objects and challenges our conventional notions of what constitutes "art."