Creatophora cinerea (Wattled starling) Possibly 1777 - 1786

Robert Jacob Gordon captured this image of a Creatophora cinerea, or Wattled starling, in watercolor, roughly around the late 18th century. Gordon was a Dutch explorer, military officer and naturalist of Scottish descent, whose position in the Dutch East India Company gave him access to explore and document the natural world of Southern Africa. At first glance, the watercolor evokes a sense of scientific observation. Yet it also reflects the complex interplay between colonialism, exploration, and the construction of knowledge. As a colonial officer, Gordon’s gaze was inherently shaped by the power dynamics of his time. Consider how the act of naming and classifying species was intertwined with asserting control over the land and its resources. What does it mean to view this delicate rendering of a bird through the lens of colonial history? Does it complicate or enrich our understanding of the artwork and its legacy?