Hippopotamus amphibius capensis (Hippopotamus) Possibly 1777 - 1778

Curator: This delicate watercolour and ink drawing, believed to be created around 1777 or 1778, captures a Hippopotamus amphibius capensis. The artist is Robert Jacob Gordon, and it provides a glimpse into how naturalists documented wildlife during this period. Editor: My first thought? Slightly surreal. Seeing just sections, almost clinical, on what's normally this huge, powerful creature... It shrinks it somehow, makes it seem almost... vulnerable? Curator: Indeed. These isolated views were common for scientific illustrations. The focus was less on the animal's grandeur and more on precise anatomical detail. Consider how Gordon's work contributed to colonial-era understandings of the Cape's ecosystem. He was documenting for scientific and political purposes. Editor: You're right, of course, about the science. But it’s also about control, isn't it? To dissect, depict… It feels like an attempt to tame the unknown through art. Like drawing it somehow lessened its inherent power, both for him and those back "home" in Europe. Curator: Precisely. And this raises interesting questions about representation and power. Who gets to define nature? Who benefits from this depiction? Naturalism as a style also tells its own story; its values shape our perspective even today. Editor: Hmm. So this seemingly straightforward naturalistic study becomes a potent lens through which we can examine not only 18th century science, but our own. And what exactly our role should be within wild environments? Always fascinating... Curator: Absolutely. Gordon's drawing prompts us to consider the social, historical, and even political context surrounding seemingly neutral depictions of nature. A hippopotamus as a subject raises awareness on ecological history as well, I dare to say. Editor: Very much. It really makes me appreciate just how many layers of narrative a simple drawing can contain if you stop and just ponder...