Morus capensis (Cape gannet) Possibly 1777 - 1786

This is a drawing of a Morus capensis, or Cape gannet, by Robert Jacob Gordon, completed sometime before his death in 1795. Gordon, a Dutch military officer of Scottish descent, spent much of his career in service to the Dutch East India Company, exploring the interior of Southern Africa. His commissioned explorations had the dual purpose of expanding Dutch knowledge of the land and its resources, and asserting their colonial power. Gordon’s drawings document the landscape, flora, fauna, and indigenous people he encountered, but these depictions often reflect the power dynamics inherent in colonial encounters. How might the artist's role in colonial expansion shape the way we interpret the gannet? Is this an attempt at objective documentation, or does it reflect a desire to categorize and claim ownership over the natural world? Consider the way the gannet is presented: isolated against a neutral backdrop, almost like a specimen pinned for study. In this light, how does the piece evoke the complex interplay between scientific curiosity, colonial ambition, and the representation of the 'other'?