lcelaphus buselaphus caama (Hartebeest) Possibly 1777 - 1786

This image of an lcelaphus buselaphus caama, or Hartebeest, was made by Robert Jacob Gordon in the late 18th century. It is made with ink and watercolor on paper, common materials for naturalistic studies at the time. Yet the qualities of these materials also speak to a wider social context. The fine lines of ink give the animal’s form precision, and the watercolor creates subtle gradations of tone. This is not just a work of art but a record of observation, almost scientific in its detail. The script surrounding the image suggests a meticulous attempt to measure and classify, an effort inseparable from European exploration and colonization. Gordon was a military commander in the Dutch East India Company, and his drawings are part of a project to systematically understand and exploit the natural resources of the Cape. The image's beauty cannot be separated from the political context that made it possible.