Ourebia ourebi (Oribi) Possibly 1777 - 1786

This watercolor drawing of an Oribi, an antelope native to Africa, was made by Robert Jacob Gordon. The animal is carefully depicted, standing in a sparse landscape, its delicate features rendered with precision. The antelope, throughout history, has been a potent symbol, often linked to themes of agility, grace, and heightened sensory perception. We can see echoes of this symbolism in the ancient Greek myth of Artemis, the goddess of the hunt, often associated with deer, a close relative of the antelope. The animal embodies the raw power of nature, inspiring awe and perhaps a touch of primeval fear. Consider also the emotional resonance evoked by the animal's alert posture. This tension, between vulnerability and alertness, perhaps touches upon our subconscious awareness of the precarious balance between predator and prey. The Oribi is not merely an image of an animal, but a mirror reflecting our own complex relationship with the natural world. This depiction is but one instance in the antelope's long journey through the collective consciousness, a journey that continues to evolve as we project new meanings onto this enduring symbol.