Fritz Behn was a German sculptor and animalier, known for his bronze sculptures of animals and wildlife.
Born in Königsberg, Behn grew up in an artistic family and showed a talent for sculpture at an early age. He studied at the School of Arts and Crafts in Berlin from 1896 to 1899, and then at the Academy of Fine Arts in Berlin from 1899 to 1903. During this time, he was also an apprentice in the studio of the sculptor Reinhold Begas.
Behn's work was heavily influenced by his travels to Africa, where he went on safari and studied the wildlife. His bronze animal sculptures became his signature work, and he exhibited them at major exhibitions in Berlin, Paris, and Rome. He also created public monuments, including a bronze lion at the Berlin Zoo and a bronze eagle at the Reichstag building in Berlin.
During World War II, Behn's work was condemned by the Nazi regime as degenerate art, and many of his sculptures were removed from public display. After the war, however, he was able to resume his career and continued to create new works until his death in 1970.
Behn was a member of several artist associations and received numerous awards and honors during his career. His works are held in collections around the world, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., and the Berlin State Museums. Today, he is considered one of the leading animalier sculptors of the 20th century.