Hermas igniaria of Hermas gigantea (Tontelblaar) Possibly 1777 - 1786

Curator: This is a drawing by Robert Jacob Gordon, entitled "Hermas igniaria of Hermas gigantea (Tontelblaar)". It was likely created between 1777 and 1786 using pencil on paper. What strikes you first about this work? Editor: There’s an inherent quietness in the piece. A meditative quality emerges through the almost muted palette, and the fastidious rendering. It feels scientifically detached and beautiful at the same time. Curator: Precisely. The meticulous attention to detail speaks to a scientific inclination but goes beyond pure record keeping. Observe how Gordon renders the texture of the flowerheads, for example. It invites a haptic, tactile understanding. Editor: And one cannot overlook that this work arises within a complicated historical framework. Gordon was a commander in the Dutch East India Company. These botanical drawings, thus, represent a complicated act of both scientific study and colonial inventory. Curator: True, but also an early form of environmental documentation, when looked at through the lens of modernity. The composition is rather fascinating as well, it's almost like two separate studies on the same paper. One wonders why Gordon decided to arrange them this way. Editor: It highlights their similarities and subtle differences. This piece allows us a glimpse into not only the natural world but also the artist’s meticulous observation of it through his own situated view. Curator: Gordon offers more than mere representation; he encourages a deep contemplation on our relationship with nature itself. Editor: Absolutely, and within the colonial project and botanical study itself, there are many voices speaking across a variety of ecological and theoretical interpretations. Curator: I will continue to revisit the pure craftsmanship, for that seems timeless in this very thoughtful and provocative artwork. Editor: As will I return to consider its role within the bigger colonial picture, offering another lens for its overall importance.