Lachenalia arbuthnotiae W.F. Barker (Hyacinth) Possibly 1777 - 1786

Robert Jacob Gordon, a Dutch explorer and military officer in service of the Dutch East India Company, made this watercolor drawing of the Lachenalia arbuthnotiae, or Hyacinth, in the late 18th century. Gordon's position within the Dutch East India Company gave him unique access to the natural world of South Africa, a land then undergoing intense colonial scrutiny and exploitation. The botanical drawings he produced are part of a complex history, one that intertwines scientific discovery with colonial power dynamics. Consider the act of documentation itself. Who gets to name, classify, and ultimately control knowledge? Gordon's images, while seemingly objective, were part of a larger project of colonial knowledge production. They raise questions about whose perspectives are valued and whose are marginalized in the making of history. While we can appreciate the beauty of the hyacinth captured here, it's important to also reflect on the historical context that made this image possible, and to remember that the land and its resources were not freely given, but taken.