Im Dschungel 

Wilhelm Kuhnert painted ‘Im Dschungel’ in the late 19th or early 20th century, a period marked by European colonial expansion into Africa and Asia. Kuhnert, celebrated for his renderings of wildlife, often depicted animals in their natural habitats, reflecting an emerging interest in naturalism. However, his work also subtly reveals the complex relationship between European society and the natural world during the colonial era. While seemingly objective, Kuhnert's portrayal of the tiger cannot be divorced from the context of imperialism. In 'Im Dschungel', the tiger is presented as an exotic creature, an object of fascination and perhaps domination. Kuhnert's approach contributes to the construction of the "Orient" as a land of untamed wilderness, reinforcing the colonizer’s narrative of bringing civilization to the 'untamed'. The emotional tension lies in recognizing the tiger's inherent power while understanding its vulnerability within a changing world.