Ben Austrian (1870–1921) was an American painter renowned for his charming depictions of chickens and rural life, born in Reading, Pennsylvania, where he spent most of his life. A sickly child, Austrian found solace in the countryside near Kutztown, where an enduring affection for chickens inspired him to teach himself to paint. After his father’s death, Austrian left behind his family’s dry goods business to pursue a career in art, a decision that swiftly brought him both recognition and success.

Austrian’s best-known works featured chickens—particularly hen-and-chick scenes—which caught the eye of advertisers and art collectors alike. He became the official artist for Bon Ami cleaning products, a company that still uses his baby chick images as a trademark. Austrian operated studios in Berks County, Paris, and Palm Beach, and his lithographs were distributed widely, earning international acclaim. Despite having broad interests in landscape and animal subjects, his whimsical images of barnyard life remain enduringly popular with both collectors and the public.