Chrysochloris asiatica (Cape golden mole) Possibly 1777 - 1779

This delicate drawing of a Chrysochloris asiatica, or Cape golden mole, was made in 1777 by Robert Jacob Gordon, a Dutch military officer and explorer. Gordon’s drawings were made in the Cape, during a time when the Dutch East India Company was a major colonial power. Interestingly, his meticulous depiction of this small, burrowing mammal raises questions about the nature of exploration and documentation. Who gets to name and classify? How does one culture's understanding of nature get imposed upon another? Gordon’s role as both a military figure and a naturalist complicates our view; he’s caught between the demands of colonial power and a genuine scientific curiosity. Consider too, the depiction of an animal considered “blind”. This brings into focus themes of hidden knowledge and unseen worlds, prompting us to reflect on what remains obscure or overlooked within systems of power and knowledge. The rendering invites us to consider the value of what is often unseen.