Suricata suricatta (Meerkats) Possibly 1777 - 1786

This watercolor and ink drawing, *Suricata suricatta (Meerkats)*, was made by Robert Jacob Gordon in the late 18th century. Gordon, a Dutch military officer of Scottish descent, was a complex figure whose work reflects the intersection of scientific exploration and colonial expansion in South Africa. This image presents two meerkats in their habitat, observed through the eyes of a European naturalist. The attention to detail speaks to Gordon's scientific interests, yet it also reveals the power dynamics inherent in the act of observation, and the way Europe looked at the "New World" and its inhabitants. Consider the position of the meerkats: one stands upright, almost human-like, inviting a comparison that blurs the lines between the human and animal, the observer and the observed. While rooted in scientific observation, this drawing invites us to reflect on the cultural lens through which we perceive nature, and the emotional connections we form with the creatures around us.