1. The rise of the merchant class. In the 15th and 16th centuries, there was a growing merchant class in northern Europe who had the money to commission works of art. These merchants often wanted portraits of themselves and their families, as well as paintings of their homes and businesses.
2. The development of new techniques. The development of oil paints and the use of canvases allowed artists to create more realistic and detailed paintings. This made it possible to capture the individual likenesses of people and the beauty of the natural world.
3. The influence of the Italian Renaissance. The Italian Renaissance had a profound influence on northern European art. Italian artists were known for their naturalistic style of painting, and many northern artists adopted this style.
4. The rise of Protestantism. The rise of Protestantism in northern Europe led to a decline in religious art. This gave artists more freedom to explore other subjects, such as portraits and landscapes.
Portraits and landscapes became increasingly popular in northern European art in the 15th and 16th centuries. This was due to a number of factors, including the rise of the merchant class, the development of new techniques, the influence of the Italian Renaissance, and the rise of Protestantism.