Auguste Rodin (b. 1840 d.1917) was a French Sculptor most well known for his sculptures The Kiss and The Thinker. Rodin challenged the traditions of figurative sculpture choosing to focus on naturalism, physicality and character of the human body. His work provided a huge influence to artists such as Henri Matisse and the cubist movement. His challenging of academic standards and expressive depictions of the human form means he is now widely regarded as the father of Modern sculpture.