Gethyllis afra L (Kukukmakranka) Possibly 1777 - 1786

Here we see 'Gethyllis afra L (Kukukmakranka),' a botanical illustration by Robert Jacob Gordon. Gordon was an explorer and military officer in service of the Dutch East India Company in the late 18th century. This delicate watercolor offers us insight into the complex intersection of science, colonialism, and identity in the Cape. As a European officer, Gordon's position afforded him access to the land and its resources, including the indigenous flora. But what does it mean to document and classify nature through a colonial lens? How did this impact the local people who had lived with and known this plant for generations? Consider the indigenous name, 'Kukukmakranka', juxtaposed with its Latin classification. It's a moment to reflect on whose knowledge is valued, whose is erased, and how these power dynamics play out in the seemingly objective field of natural science. It invites us to consider the layers of history and perspective embedded in this image.