John Berger (1926–2017) was an English writer, art critic, painter, and essayist, widely regarded as one of the most influential cultural thinkers of the 20th century. He was born in London and initially trained as a painter before turning to writing and criticism.

Berger gained international recognition with his groundbreaking work Ways of Seeing (1972), which challenged traditional approaches to art and visual culture and became highly influential in both academic and popular contexts. He also wrote novels, including G. (1972), which won the Booker Prize, as well as the Into Their Labours trilogy, exploring the lives of rural European communities.

His work is known for blending art, politics, and storytelling, often focusing on themes such as class, migration, and the experience of ordinary people. Berger spent much of his later life in rural France, where he continued to write across genres. He remains a major figure in modern literature and cultural criticism.