Copies after San rock-paintings of an ostrich, a rhinoceros, and four figures Possibly 1777

Editor: So, this ink drawing on paper from possibly 1777 is entitled "Copies after San rock-paintings of an ostrich, a rhinoceros, and four figures" and it's by Robert Jacob Gordon. It strikes me as very simple and almost playful in its rendering of the animals. What's your take on this? Curator: Playful, yes! I see in it the echo of time. The ostrich looks almost like a feathered ship sailing on the parchment sea. Gordon isn't just copying, he's channeling a spirit, a whisper from the rocks themselves. Can you sense the movement, the dance between observer and observed? He sees more than just outlines, he seems to grasp at the very *essence* of those ancient artworks. Do you feel that too? Editor: I think I see what you mean. It's like he's not just drawing, he’s trying to understand the minds that created the original rock paintings. What about the sort of documentary nature of this piece though? Does that impact your more personal interpretation? Curator: Documentary, yes, but even documents are poems in disguise, aren't they? Gordon’s choices—what to include, how to render—speak volumes. Think about how an ostrich transcends its "ostrichness," how it transforms into symbol, an avatar! Gordon makes each one almost breathe. I see not just the rhino or the ostrich, but the hand, the eye, the heart of those who lived and dreamed on that land. Editor: Wow. That's quite a journey to take from a simple ink drawing. It's amazing how much depth there is once you start looking. Curator: Exactly! And remember, art speaks not just *to* us but *through* us, with all of our beautiful human baggage in tow.