Antigone rubicunda (Brolga, or Australian Crane) 1770 - 1780

George Raper, an artist whose dates are unknown, made this image of an Antigone rubicunda, or Brolga crane with watercolour and ink. As an early image of Australian wildlife, it can tell us a lot about the complex relationship between natural science, colonialism, and art. The measured scale shows the tension between aesthetic appreciation and scientific documentation. Raper’s picture is a visual record of Australia’s natural environment, the crane’s image functioning as a specimen, classified and measured. Australia's unique fauna and flora were of great interest to European scientists and collectors. As such, the image embodies the scientific aspirations of the Enlightenment and the colonial project of cataloguing and claiming new territories. To fully understand this artwork we would need to consult both historical archives of scientific illustration, and post-colonial studies of the cultural impact of British exploration. This reminds us that art history isn't just about aesthetics, it's about understanding the social, political, and institutional contexts in which art is made and interpreted.