Hyænen i menageriet ved Frederiksberg Slot 1767

Jens Juel, painted this image of a hyena in the menagerie at Frederiksberg Castle. During the 18th century, European royal menageries were more than just collections of exotic animals, they symbolized power and dominion over the natural world. The hyena, rendered with a blend of fascination and perhaps a touch of fear, existed in a cultural context rife with superstition and misunderstanding. Seen through the lens of the Enlightenment, it challenged the traditional great chain of being, with the “lower” creatures safely below man. Juel's painting captures the animal's physical form but also hints at its untamed spirit, a creature living at the margins of human understanding. As you reflect on this image, consider the hyena's gaze. Does it reflect a challenge to the viewer or a resignation to its captive existence? What does it mean to witness an animal, far from its home, rendered as an object of curiosity and control? This hyena invites us to reflect on the complex dynamics of power, knowledge, and our relationship with the natural world.