Carpobrotus quadrifidus L. Bolus Possibly 1777 - 1786

This is Robert Jacob Gordon's botanical illustration of Carpobrotus quadrifidus L. Bolus. Gordon was a Dutch explorer, soldier, and naturalist of Scottish descent, active in the Cape Colony during the late 18th century. Gordon's identity as a man of science was deeply enmeshed with his role in colonial expansion. His explorations, ostensibly scientific, also served the interests of the Dutch East India Company. Gordon's illustrations such as this one, straddle the line between scientific documentation and aesthetic appreciation, often reflecting the complex power dynamics inherent in colonial encounters. The cultural understanding of the land is filtered through the Western gaze and is, in some way, a reframing. There is an emotional resonance in viewing this flower as something discovered. It prompts us to consider the human impact on the natural world, and what it means to categorize and represent nature through a scientific and colonial lens.