Hydnora africana Thunb., details (Jackal-food plant) Possibly 1777 - 1786

Robert Jacob Gordon rendered “Hydnora africana Thunb., details (Jackal-food plant)” in pen and ink and watercolour wash. At first glance, the composition strikes us with its stark realism, but it’s the plant’s strange, almost grotesque, form that truly captures our attention. Gordon uses the structure of botanical illustration to engage with themes of natural order and scientific observation. However, the visual elements challenge such neat categorization. The dominant earthy tones and detailed textures evoke a tactile, almost visceral response. The plant's internal structures are exposed with scientific precision, yet they resemble something disturbingly organic, challenging fixed ideas about beauty. We see an intersection of art and science that destabilizes established meanings. How can we reconcile the objective gaze of the scientific illustrator with the subjectivity inherent in artistic representation? Gordon's work invites us to consider how visual representation shapes and challenges our understanding of the natural world.