Paul Cezanne was a French painter in the late 19th century who wanted to be an artist from a young age but his father insisted he become a lawyer. Though he tried law, he was truly an artist and went on to become known as the father of modern art, developing new techniques like using geometric shapes to depict objects like apples rather than realistic colors. He painted hundreds of still life paintings focusing on apples, hoping to astonish Paris with his innovative still life paintings that broke from tradition.