Henrik Johan Ibsen (1828 - 1906) was a major 19th-century Norwegian playwright of realistic drama and poet. He is often referred to as the 'father of modern drama' and is one of the founders of modernism in the theatre. His plays were considered scandalous to many of his era, when Victorian values of family life and propriety largely held sway in Europe and any challenge to them was considered immoral and outrageous. Ibsen's work examined the realities that lay behind many facades, possessing a revelatory nature that was disquieting to many contemporaries. Ibsen introduced a critical eye and free inquiry into the conditions of life and issues of morality.