Crinum macowanii Baker, formerly Amaryllis belladonna (Cape coast lily) Possibly 1777 - 1786

Robert Jacob Gordon depicted Crinum macowanii Baker, formerly Amaryllis belladonna, using ink and watercolor. Gordon was a Dutch explorer, military officer, and naturalist of Scottish descent, who served in the Dutch East India Company. He is most remembered for his travels in southern Africa. During these journeys, he documented the local flora and fauna. As a member of the European elite, Gordon carried the legacy of the Enlightenment with him, a cultural and philosophical movement that emphasized reason and individualism rather than tradition. He made this work at a time when scientific exploration often went hand in hand with colonial expansion. Gordon's role in this context raises important questions about the power dynamics inherent in the act of observing and documenting the natural world. The detailed botanical illustration reflects a desire to classify and understand nature. It also echoes broader themes of discovery, knowledge, and control during the colonial era.