Renée Sintenis (Between Freedom and Modernism)

As one of the first female sculptors of the early twentieth century, Renée Sintenis enjoyed considerable success. Her striking appearance made her a symbol of the „Neue Frau“ (new women). Renée Sintenis (1888–1965) belongs to the first generation of professional female sculptors at the beginning of the twentieth century. She made skillful use of her business relations with her gallerist Alfred Flechtheim, who introduced her to collectors in Paris, London, and New York. The market for, in particular, her lively, small animal sculptures was quite lucrative. These experienced renewed popularity in the 1950s through her “Berlin Bear” statuette, which has been presented in a small version at the Berlin International Film Festival for over sixty years. The catalog sheds light on the sculptor’s diverse oeuvre and provides insight into the self-image of one of the most successful women artists of the Weimar Republic, who embodied the type “Neue Frau” (new woman) through her much noted appearance in tailor-made men’s suits.