Zosterops pallidus (Orange River white-eye) Possibly 1777 - 1786

Robert Jacob Gordon created this watercolor drawing of a Zosterops pallidus, or Orange River white-eye, likely in the late 18th century. Gordon, a Dutch explorer and military officer of Scottish descent, was commander of the Dutch garrison at the Cape of Good Hope. His detailed illustrations of Southern African wildlife, reflect a time when natural history was deeply entwined with colonial exploration. The artist’s identity as a man in service of the Dutch East India Company is central to how we view this bird. How does the act of documenting and naming nature reinforce power structures? What does it mean to classify and categorize living beings, particularly in a colonial context? Gordon’s work invites us to consider the intersection of art, science, and colonialism, and prompts us to think critically about whose perspectives are included in the narratives we tell about the natural world.