Kaapse snep Possibly 1786 - 1787

Jan Brandes created this watercolor drawing of a 'Kaapse snep' or Cape Snipe. The image provides a window into the complex intersections of natural history and colonial power in the late 18th century. Brandes, an employee of the Dutch East India Company, made this image while stationed in the Dutch Cape Colony. As a clergyman, artist, and traveler, Brandes straddled the line between scientific observer and participant in the colonial project. The detailed rendering of the bird reflects the Enlightenment's interest in cataloging the natural world. Yet, the act of naming and classifying also served to establish European dominance over the land and its resources. This image, like many others from this period, carries the weight of its historical context, reminding us of the complex relationship between knowledge, power, and representation. It prompts us to reflect on whose perspectives are included and whose are marginalized in the telling of history.