Man holding three assegais and a knobkerrie 1776 - 1795

Editor: Here we have "Man holding three assegais and a knobkerrie," a watercolor drawing created between 1776 and 1795 by Robert Jacob Gordon. It depicts an individual standing proudly, holding spears. The initial impact is quite striking. How do you interpret this work, considering the context of its creation? Curator: Well, let’s begin by acknowledging the artist, Gordon, was a military man and explorer. This work then becomes more than a simple portrait. We have to ask: What was Gordon’s relationship to the individual depicted? The word "Caffer," inscribed at the top, was a term used by Europeans, often with derogatory implications, for the Xhosa people of South Africa. Knowing that, how does the image shift for you? Editor: It's troubling. The individual is clearly presented in a position of strength, but the framing feels… exploitative, almost like a specimen. Curator: Exactly. And consider the colonial gaze. Gordon’s work wasn't just documenting; it was also categorizing, controlling. He's not just showing us an individual, he's presenting a 'type' for a European audience hungry for knowledge – and power. Does the individual’s attire or weaponry become reframed through that lens? Editor: It does. It makes you wonder about the power dynamics at play. What was the exchange between the artist and the sitter like? Was consent even a factor? Curator: Precisely. It invites us to critique the power imbalances inherent in these early ethnographic depictions. It is also interesting to consider indigenous artistic expression to consider the power structures and narrative within their art. Editor: This has really made me rethink how to look at historical portraiture. I appreciate learning about this artwork. Curator: And hopefully, we'll carry these questions forward when engaging with other art forms across various cultures and time periods.