The bronze Berlin Bear, a figure standing on its hind legs with arms raised, remains the most recognized work by Renée Sintenis. Beyond this design, which serves as the top film award for the Berlinale, she developed a prolific career producing small-format animal sculptures, female nudes, and sports statuettes throughout the twentieth century.
Early Development and Training
Born in 1888 in Kłodzko, Renate Alice Sintenis moved with her family to Berlin in 1905. She pursued decorative sculpture at the Museum of Applied Arts in 1907, studying under Wilhelm Haverkamp and Leo von König. After leaving her studies prematurely, she established her career in Berlin, eventually adopting the name Renée. Her introduction to sculptor Georg Kolbe in 1910, for whom she modelled, proved pivotal to her artistic trajectory.
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Sintenis deliberately rejected monumentality in favor of small-format sculpture. Her work encompassed terracotta self-portraits, etchings, and expressive portrait heads of figures including André Gide and Joachim Ringelnatz. Her animal sculptures, featuring donkeys, dogs, horses, and deer, gained popularity due to their portability and accessibility. By 1928, her athletic studies, specifically the 'Footballeur', earned her a bronze medal at the Olympic Games art competition.
Professional Associations and Challenges
She held memberships in the Berlin Secession and the German Association of Artists. Her career flourished within the Flechtheim art circle during the 1920s, with works exhibited at the Tate Gallery, the Museum of Modern Art, and the Berlin Nationalgalerie. In 1931, she was appointed to the Berlin Academy of the Arts. However, the rise of the Third Reich brought significant restrictions, including her exclusion from the Academy in 1934 due to her Jewish origins and the 1941 ban on bronze casting.
Marriage and Later Life
In 1917, she married the painter and type artist Emil Rudolf Weiß, who served as both mentor and collaborator. Their most notable joint project was the edition of Sappho's 22 Songs, featuring her etchings and his font designs. Following the death of Weiß in 1942, Sintenis continued her work in Berlin and Frohnau. Her post-war honors included the Pour le Mérite for Sciences and Arts in 1952 and the Commander's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany in 1953. She died in 1965 and was buried at Waldfriedhof Dahlem.
Fast facts
- Born: 1888, Kłodzko
- Died: 1965, Berlin
- Olympic Medal: Bronze (1928)
- Notable Membership: Berlin Secession
- Spouse: Emil Rudolf Weiß
- Burial Site: Waldfriedhof Dahlem
- Primary Medium: Small-format sculpture
- Recognition: Commander's Cross of the Order of Merit (1953)
Questions readers ask
What is Renée Sintenis best known for?
She is recognized for her small-format animal sculptures and her statue of the Berlin Bear, which serves as the design for the Golden Bear film award.
Did Sintenis receive any major awards for her work?
Yes, she was awarded an Olympic bronze medal in 1928, the Berliner Kunstpreis in 1948, the Pour le Mérite in 1952, and the Commander's Cross of the Order of Merit in 1953.
Achievements
- Officer's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany
- Commander's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany — 1953
- Olympic bronze medal — 1928
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