I love abstract painting and modern art in general (specific pieces, of course, not all), but I can't for the life of me explain why (even to myself).
Les Demoiselles d'Avignon, 1907.
I enjoy the moderns, too, both the semi-representational stuff like Picasso's and the non-representational art of Pollack and others.
I suspect that the original poster does not share that appreciation. Thank goodness there's room for varied tastes in art.
IIRC, my art teacher, for a core requirement course I needed to take in college, would say Paul Cezanne got that ball rolling.
The Bay