Mugil cephalus (Flathead grey mullet) Possibly 1777 - 1786

Robert Jacob Gordon created this image of a Flathead grey mullet using pen and watercolor. It is rendered with remarkable precision. The visual qualities of this artwork rely on the artist’s observational skills, and their talent in translating the three-dimensional form of the fish onto a two-dimensional surface. The watercolor adds depth and texture, especially in the scales. We also see a ruler included in the composition. Gordon was not just interested in the aesthetic qualities of the fish. He wanted to record accurate measurements, a necessity for scientific study. In the context of the 18th century, such images were vital tools for exploration and cataloging new species. It allowed for systematic study of the natural world, and for sharing knowledge. It served scientific and colonial ambitions. This image underscores the importance of seeing art not as a purely aesthetic creation, but as a product of a specific time, with its own social, scientific, and political imperatives.