Henrik Ibsen

Norwegian, 1828–1906

Henrik Ibsen (1828-1906) was a Norwegian playwright and theater director, widely regarded as the father of modern realistic drama. His plays — including A Doll's House, Hedda Gabler, and An Enemy of the People — shocked Victorian audiences with their frank treatment of social hypocrisy, women's rights, and individual freedom. Ibsen's influence on the theater is matched only by Shakespeare's, and his works remain among the most performed in the world.