Fish of the order Mugilidae (mullet) Possibly 1777 - 1786

Curator: Here we have “Fish of the order Mugilidae (mullet)” a watercolor by Robert Jacob Gordon, dating probably from 1777 to 1786. My first impression is its striking level of detail given its almost scientific quality. Editor: Indeed. It has the air of objective cataloging typical of the Enlightenment, yet the very act of singling out this particular fish raises questions about colonial encounter, about the representation of a specific locale, and the commodification of nature itself. The starkness isolates the object from its environment, placing it under colonial gaze. Curator: Perhaps, but it is first and foremost, an intriguing study in texture. Look at how Gordon captures the light on each individual scale. And the composition, despite being seemingly straightforward, holds visual interest in how the fins punctuate the main shape and rhythm. Editor: But can we really divorce the aesthetic qualities from the fact that these detailed illustrations were often instrumental in exerting control over territories and resources? Naturalism as an artistic choice conveniently facilitated the documentation of what colonizers perceived as resources to be managed and exploited. Curator: Well, whether it's implicated in a problematic history, the work possesses an undeniable graphic elegance and technical refinement. The carefully graduated watercolour washes creating subtle modulations, achieving both precision and a sense of depth. Editor: Yet, reflecting on natural history and colonialism forces me to view the fish not merely as an aesthetic specimen, but as part of an ecology disrupted and altered by the processes of collection, categorization and representation itself. Curator: I suppose we approach this work through different frameworks. For me, the artist’s technical virtuosity creates a viewing experience that celebrates its very formal merits, making me want to go deeper into its textures. Editor: And for me, seeing this "portrait" asks more complex questions, especially about its time.