Who is considered the father of modern art?

Paul Cézanne is often regarded as the father of modern art due to his significant contributions to the art movement that paved the way for subsequent artists. His innovative approach to form and color fundamentally changed the direction of painting in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Cézanne’s exploration of geometric shapes, such as cubes, spheres, and cylinders, in his still lifes and landscapes laid the groundwork for abstraction, influencing later movements such as Cubism, which was famously developed by artists like Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque.

Cézanne's technique of building form through color rather than relying on traditional perspective transformed the way artists perceived and represented space. His works often focused on the underlying structures of objects, demonstrating that art could express more than just surface appearance; it could also reflect deeper realities and emotional truths. This shift in artistic philosophy is a key reason he is celebrated as a precursor to modern art movements.