Rostratula benghalensis (Greater painted-snipe) Possibly 1777 - 1786

This watercolor of a Rostratula benghalensis, or Greater painted-snipe, was created by Robert Jacob Gordon. The meticulous layering of watercolor, especially the delicate, dappled effect used to describe the plumage, is particularly striking. It speaks to the careful observation of nature, but also to a tradition of scientific illustration. The image is rendered with fine brushes on paper, likely produced in a European mill. Consider the broader context: Gordon was a military man working for the Dutch East India Company. His job was to travel the region and report back on its resources. This bird, therefore, becomes a specimen, a piece of data within a colonial system. The making involved not only artistic skill, but also a world-spanning network of trade, labor, and power. Looking closely at materials and their making allows us to appreciate the artist's hand, and also to understand the larger forces at play.