Numida meleagris (Helmeted guineafowl) Possibly 1778

Robert Jacob Gordon, a Dutch explorer and military officer, created this watercolor drawing of a Helmeted guineafowl. Gordon worked for the Dutch East India Company in the late 18th century. Here, we see the guineafowl rendered in careful detail. The image is accompanied by handwritten notes in Dutch, offering insights into the bird's habitat and habits. Gordon's work reflects the scientific and colonial interests of the Dutch East India Company, which sought to document and exploit the natural resources of Southern Africa. The creation of such images served to classify and catalogue the natural world, contributing to the European understanding and control over distant lands. Gordon's drawing is not just an objective record, but a product of a specific historical moment. To better understand the artwork, one might consult colonial archives, travel journals, and scientific publications of the time. It's in these historical contexts that we find meaning.