Gladiolus carneus D. Delarochev (Painted lady) Possibly 1777 - 1786

Curator: Here we have a watercolour drawing titled Gladiolus carneus D. Delarochev, more commonly known as Painted lady, potentially created between 1777 and 1786, attributed to Robert Jacob Gordon. Editor: Oh, how utterly delicate! It has this vintage charm about it, like finding a forgotten pressed flower between the pages of an old book. The pinks and greens are so gentle, almost whispering. Curator: Indeed. The very careful rendering is typical of botanical illustrations from that era, deeply entangled with colonialism and scientific exploration. Gordon's work gives us invaluable insights into the natural world of the Cape. Editor: Exploration, yes, but filtered through someone's eye, isn't it? I wonder, what did he feel as he painted this? Did he feel a sense of possessive awe, or quiet curiosity? Curator: That's the tightrope walk of art history: balancing the artist's personal intention against the sociopolitical landscape they were working in. These botanical studies often served to classify, document, and ultimately, exploit the resources of colonised lands. Editor: You're right, there's a complex tension humming beneath the surface of this lovely flower, the privilege to depict, the quiet violence of naming and owning… I keep coming back to those blush pink petals. They feel both fragile and fiercely resilient, just like the land from which it comes. Curator: Absolutely. Considering how this plant connects to larger narratives of colonial encounter and botanical appropriation urges us to examine how systems of knowledge are intertwined with power dynamics. It’s a way to recognize historical roots while asking new questions. Editor: Hmm... Maybe beauty like this, observed with honesty, can still offer some form of... well, not redemption, exactly, but maybe reconciliation with how we see nature and each other? One petal, one drawing, one thought at a time...