Carel Jacobus Behr was a well-known Hague painter of cityscapes. He was trained by B.J. van Hove, who was a teacher at the Hague Academy and also a set painter at the Koninklijke Nederlandsche Schouwburg in The Hague. Van Hove also taught Sam Verveer, Huib van Hove and Joh. Bosboom. It is known that the latter regularly upholstered Behr's cityscapes, with both signing the work. His work was purchased by the municipality of The Hague and by King Willem II.