Euplectes orix (Southern red bishop), nest Possibly 1777 - 1786

This delicate graphite drawing of a Southern red bishop's nest and egg was made by Robert Jacob Gordon in the late 18th century. Gordon was a Dutch military officer and explorer of Scottish descent, who commanded the garrison of the Dutch East India Company at Cape Town. His position gave him unique access to the land and its peoples, but also placed him squarely within a colonial project that was inherently about extraction and control. Gordon's sketches and journals provide invaluable records of the landscapes, flora, and fauna he encountered, but they are also documents that reflect the power dynamics of the era. As we observe this detailed nest, it's important to remember that it sits within a history of scientific exploration intertwined with colonial ambition. Consider the intimate act of observing and recording nature, and how this intersected with broader societal and political structures of the time.