Geruba 1775

Here we see an engraving, "Geruba," by Paul Revere. Revere, better known for his midnight ride, was also a silversmith and engraver, who lived through the political upheaval of revolutionary America. This print, likely made for the Royal American Magazine, depicts an animal then referred to as a 'gerbua or yerboa’ - what we now call a Jerboa. The animal is presented in profile, its long kangaroo-like legs suggesting movement and agility, while other smaller Jerboas are in the background. As an American colonist, Revere's choice of subject matter reflects an interest in cataloging the natural world from a colonial perspective. Yet, by depicting a creature from afar, Revere engages in a visual dialogue about the boundaries of knowledge, representation, and the exoticization of the other. This engraving gives us a glimpse into the way early Americans saw, interpreted, and documented the world around them, both near and far.