Phacochoerus aethiopicus aethiopicus (Cape warthog; female) c. 1778 - 1779

Curator: This piece is titled "Phacochoerus aethiopicus aethiopicus (Cape warthog; female)" created circa 1778-1779, made with watercolours and colored pencil on paper, by Robert Jacob Gordon. Editor: Okay, my first impression? Endearing awkwardness. It’s so matter-of-fact. There’s this lone warthog smack-dab in the middle of nowhere with its cute, scruffy hair! Curator: It's very much in keeping with the scientific illustration style of the period. What stands out to me is Gordon's detailed attention to the animal's anatomy while grounding it in the symbolic landscape. He creates a scientific record, yes, but also hints at something deeper. Editor: Absolutely. Look how the flatness of the background puts the focus squarely on our subject; every bristle practically pops. Curator: That reminds me, warthogs symbolize resourcefulness, and an ability to thrive in harsh environments. This rendering connects us to a narrative of survival, not just a portrait. Editor: Yes! And there's such unpretentious grace here too, captured with these watercolors, somehow evokes resilience, and something charmingly self-possessed. I wouldn't want to meet one in person! Curator: Precisely, and how the artist highlights the animal's peculiar beauty… it really pulls us in, despite those rather formidable tusks which Gordon details precisely. Editor: It certainly does. I now find myself oddly captivated by a warthog. It’s more thought-provoking than I’d ever imagined. Curator: The confluence of observation and artistry that asks us to re-evaluate beauty, utility and the delicate interplay of all living things. Editor: I'll never look at a warthog the same way again. And that, my friend, is the power of art.