Genypterus capensis (Kingklip) Possibly 1777 - 1786

Robert Jacob Gordon made this striking drawing of a Kingklip, a type of fish native to the waters off South Africa, using pen and ink, and watercolour. Gordon was a military officer in the Dutch East India Company, and he used his artistic skills to record the natural history of the Cape Colony. This image speaks to the social and cultural context of scientific exploration during the Age of Enlightenment. The detailed rendering of the fish reflects a growing interest in empirical observation and the classification of the natural world. The inclusion of a scale emphasizes the importance of accurate measurement and documentation. Gordon's work contributes to a larger colonial project, where the act of recording and classifying natural resources was intertwined with economic and political interests. Further understanding of Gordon’s drawing comes from examining his journals and the records of the Dutch East India Company. This illuminates the complex relationship between art, science, and colonialism in the 18th century.