Standing Khoikhoi woman Possibly 1777 - 1786

Editor: So, this is Robert Jacob Gordon’s "Standing Khoikhoi woman," likely created between 1777 and 1786, using ink and watercolor. I’m immediately drawn to the detailed rendering of her clothing and adornments. How do you approach this image? Curator: I'm fascinated by the materiality of the depiction itself. Think about the pigments used for the watercolor, likely sourced through colonial trade routes. The ink, too, tells a story about access to resources. Consider how these materials were employed by Gordon, a European military officer and explorer, to portray an Indigenous woman. What labor went into the *making* of this image, and what does that say about the social hierarchy it represents? Editor: That’s interesting! I hadn't considered the implications of the materials themselves. Is the detailed depiction of her garments then a reflection of their value or status within her community? Curator: Possibly, but let’s also examine this detail critically. Who benefits from this detailed recording? Does it serve a scientific or anthropological purpose for the colonizers, or does it genuinely reflect an appreciation for the woman's culture? Perhaps both. We should also think about how the creation and subsequent consumption of this image contribute to a system of power imbalances. What do you make of the composition overall, and how it affects how we perceive the subject? Editor: Now I see how closely it is related to questions of value and exchange. Thank you for revealing so many nuances! Curator: Of course. Hopefully it inspires a greater appreciation for both the aesthetic qualities of the work and the processes and historical contexts behind its creation.