Ixia viridiflora Lam. Possibly 1777 - 1786

Editor: So, here we have "Ixia viridiflora Lam." a watercolor by Robert Jacob Gordon, dating from around 1777 to 1786. It's incredibly delicate. I am struck by the almost dreamlike quality given its precise detail. What stands out to you about it? Curator: The immediate symbolic presence lies in the bloom's unusual color; this viridian blue. In certain cultures, blue represents longing or distance, a desire for something just out of reach. Knowing this was painted during a period of exploration, might this resonate with the artist’s own feelings of being an outsider in a new landscape? Editor: That's a fascinating point! I hadn't considered that connection. I was mainly thinking about the artistic rendering of a botanical specimen and missed any possible symbolic layers. Curator: Look closer. Botanical art in this era wasn’t just about representation; it was often about power. Consider the bulbs: anchoring, almost earthy in contrast to the ethereal blooms. They speak of something grounding amidst exploration and even colonization. It suggests not just discovery, but ownership, classifying and cataloging. Does this image elicit something else for you, something beyond the science? Editor: Well, seeing the blooms as potentially ‘out of reach’ makes me think of the exclusivity of scientific knowledge at the time... Who had access, who was excluded. Also, the way the plant is centered and isolated…is that also a kind of symbolic statement about the dominance of man over nature? Curator: Precisely. It invites us to consider how scientific illustration became a tool of both knowledge and control. Symbols operate on many layers. Editor: This has definitely opened my eyes to the symbolic dimensions I initially overlooked. I will never look at botanical art the same way again! Curator: Excellent! It's a potent reminder that even the most seemingly objective images carry cultural weight.