Who started modern art first?

Modern art does not have a single founder, as it emerged from various movements and influences in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. However, artists like Édouard Manet are often credited with initiating the shift toward modernism through their break from traditional techniques and subjects. Movements such as Impressionism, Cubism, and Surrealism further developed the principles of modern art, with key figures like Claude Monet, Pablo Picasso, and Marcel Duchamp playing significant roles. The evolution of modern art was a collective response to social, political, and technological changes of the time.