Euplectes capensis (Yellow bishop) Possibly 1777 - 1786

This watercolor and graphite drawing depicts a Yellow Bishop bird and was made by Robert Jacob Gordon. Gordon was a Dutch explorer, military officer, and naturalist of Scottish descent, who served in the Dutch East India Company. Gordon’s position within the Dutch East India Company provided him access to explore and document the natural world of the Cape Colony, which he captured through detailed illustrations. The very act of documentation was fraught with the politics of colonialism, as the European powers sought to classify, control, and exploit the resources of the lands they colonized. Consider how Gordon's work reflects the prevailing European fascination with natural history, but also served the colonial agenda of claiming knowledge and ownership of the natural world. His drawings are more than just records; they’re imbued with the complex power dynamics of that era.