Himantopus himantopus (Black-winged stilt) Possibly 1777 - 1786

Robert Jacob Gordon’s “Himantopus himantopus (Black-winged stilt)” presents a striking figure against a muted landscape, rendered with delicate watercolour and ink. The composition hinges on the bird’s verticality, its slender legs anchoring a body marked by contrasting swathes of black and white. The linearity of the artwork—evident in the bird’s beak and legs, as well as the meticulous delineation of the surrounding flora—creates a sense of precision. This formal exactitude invites semiotic interpretation; the artist seems to be cataloging the natural world, transforming the bird into a sign within a broader system of knowledge. The measured scale, inscribed along the right edge, reinforces this sense of empirical observation. Gordon’s illustration, therefore, transcends mere representation, functioning as an assertion of control over the environment through visual encoding. Consider how this blend of aesthetics and scientific methodology reflects the Enlightenment’s drive to classify and codify the natural world, thereby engaging with prevailing philosophical currents.