From the earliest cave paintings to modern artworks, we have always sought ways to express ourselves creatively. The most famous painters in the world were trailblazers who drew their subjects in new ways and explored new brush techniques.

To be considered one of the greatest painters of all time, one needs to possess a special combination of technical skills, outlandish creative thinking, and determination. Most of them were already considered geniuses during their lifetimes and enjoyed unparalleled success, while others weren’t acknowledged until after their death. Here is the list of the 5 most famous painters of all time. These are the painters that everyone has heard of, and you have probably seen a painting of one of them, even if it is only from an image in a book or on a site. Please enjoy our list.

1. LEONARDO DA VINCI

Not only did Leonardo da Vinci experiment with mediums, but he also innovated different ways of creating striking compositions. In fact, his signature triangular composition is still used today and is widely considered one of the most visually pleasing painting layouts. He was also an early advocate of studying anatomical models to perfect his art, something that was illegal at the time.

2. VINCENT VAN GOGH

Vincent Willem van Gogh was a Dutch painter. His work falls under post-impressionism, an art movement that succeeded nineteenth-century impressionism. Van Gogh's influence on expressionism, fauvism and early abstraction was enormous and can be seen in many other aspects of twentieth-century art. Van Gogh is nowadays regarded as one of the great painters of the 19th century. However, this recognition came late. During his lifetime, there was probably only one painting sold: "The red vineyard."

3. PABLO PICASSO

One of the most famous painters in the world, Pablo Picasso was born in Spain yet lived most of his life in France. A talented ceramicist, printmaker, theater designer and sculptor as well as a painter, Picasso has had a lasting impact on modern art. He created over 20,000 artworks, costumes, ceramics and prints. Picasso’s famous Blue Period is thought to have been inspired by the suicide of his friend Casagemas. Picasso was also influenced by African and Oceanic art, particularly in his seminal artwork, Les Demoiselles d’Avignon. Together with the artist Georges Braque, he developed the principles of Analytic Cubism.

4. CLAUDE MONET

From bringing his easel out of the studio and into the environment to his landmark studies of time and light, Claude Monet is perhaps the most beloved of all Impressionist painters. In fact, his painting Impression, Sunrise is credited with launching the entire art movement, and his series of water lilies is a part of his lasting legacy with over 250 iterations of the subject.

5. MICHELANGELO

Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni, better known by only his first name Michelangelo was an Italian painter, sculptor, architect and poet. He is considered to be one of the most important artists of the Italian Renaissance. One of the central images, "The Creation of Adam," is one of the best known and most reproduced works in the history of art.