Tauraco corythaix (Knysna turaco or Knysna lourie) Possibly 1777 - 1786

Editor: So here we have a watercolor drawing, “Tauraco corythaix,” or Knysna Turaco, created sometime between 1777 and 1786 by Robert Jacob Gordon. The colours are striking, yet something about the bird’s placement on the page feels almost… lonely? What do you see when you look at it? Curator: Lonely, eh? That resonates. Gordon was a soldier, an explorer… always observing, documenting the fauna of South Africa. Look at the detail, though! Every feather painstakingly rendered. The scientific precision reminds me of Audubon, but with a softer, more melancholy heart, don't you think? Like he’s capturing not just a bird, but a fleeting moment. Have you ever felt that urge, to hold onto something so vibrant before it disappears? Editor: Definitely. It’s like he’s not just drawing a bird, but the *idea* of the bird. Why the flat background, though? It throws me off a little. Curator: Exactly! That flatness, that lack of context…it's both a scientific observation and, I think, a reflection of his own isolation. Imagine trekking through uncharted territory, only the birds for company! He gives us the essence, distilled, the Platonic ideal of *birdness*. What do *you* make of the handwritten text below the bird? Editor: Oh right! It looks like old Dutch. It’s too faint to read, but knowing what we do about Gordon, it probably gives additional facts about the species… which actually makes its simplicity and perceived loneliness even more profound. Like, all the details are known but this bird stands on its own. Curator: Absolutely! A lovely observation. I find this piece reminds me that art can be found in the intersection of observation, documentation, and introspection. Editor: This gives me so much to think about when I visit museums. Thanks for chatting!