Pronolagus sp. (Karoo hare) Possibly 1777 - 1786

Robert Jacob Gordon captured this Pronolagus hare with watercolor and pencil. A fleeting moment, pregnant with symbolism, is arrested here; we see the hare in mid-leap across a patch of grass, an attitude of vital energy and flight. The hare, throughout history, is a fascinating symbol. In many cultures, it appears as a lunar symbol, connected with the moon, fertility, and the cyclical nature of life. In ancient Egypt, the hare was associated with the concept of being, existing, and the opening of ways. Think, then, of its appearances in folklore – quick, elusive, a trickster. This very elusiveness has been interpreted by many as a symbol of the eternal quest for knowledge. Note how the hare is suspended in motion. This evokes a sense of urgency and an anxious, yet determined chase. Such representations tap into our collective memory, reminding us that life is about transformation and adaptation to shifting circumstances.