Ornithogalum polyphyllum Jacq Possibly 1777 - 1786

This is Robert Jacob Gordon's rendering of Ornithogalum polyphyllum Jacq. Notice the bulb at the plant’s base, firmly rooted, from which the plant’s linear stems extend, colored with subtle gradients. Gordon manipulates our perception of the plant through its structure, emphasizing its verticality yet playing with rhythm by introducing curled tips that defy the stems' rigid directionality. These curvilinear forms, looping and spiraling, inject a sense of dynamic movement. The drawing employs a precise, scientific approach, where the texture of the paper serves as an implicit structural support. This artwork invites us to consider the interplay between organic forms and structured representation, between stasis and kinesis, and between the known and the yet-to-be-discovered. Gordon presents more than a botanical study; he offers a study in visuality and perception.