Lapeirousia silenoides (Jacq.) Ker Gawl. Possibly 1777 - 1786

Editor: So, this is a watercolor drawing, "Lapeirousia silenoides (Jacq.) Ker Gawl." possibly from between 1777 and 1786, by Robert Jacob Gordon. It depicts a flowering plant. It's interesting how detailed it is, but also somewhat stark. What’s your take on this piece? Curator: Considering this botanical illustration, I'm drawn to think about the paper itself, the source of the watercolors, and the very act of its creation. Think about the social context of botanical expeditions during that era, too. Who commissioned it? Where was it painted? Who had access to it? Editor: That's a good point, I hadn’t considered who the audience would have been! So, is the material valuable? The skill of the drawing seems less important? Curator: The skill absolutely matters, but consider what that skill *represents*. Someone had to manufacture that paper, process those pigments, likely harvest them. There’s labor and a whole system of resource extraction inherent in that skill. Did the artist grow or mix his pigments? What does the plant tell you about trade at this time? Editor: Wow, that’s fascinating! I was just seeing it as a pretty plant picture, but there’s so much more to it when you consider the resources required to make it! It makes you think differently about seemingly simple images. Curator: Precisely. Looking beyond the aesthetic value allows us to understand the economic and social forces that shape art. And consider who got access to this information. That impacts trade and botanical knowledge too. Editor: This perspective really shifts how I see art, focusing on the context and material production. Thank you. Curator: And thank you for opening yourself up to considering art making beyond the image itself.