Final answer:
During the 15th century, genre painting emerged in Northern Europe, portraying ordinary people in everyday situations. This style, epitomized by artists like Pieter Bruegel the Elder, evolved to reflect the social fabric and prosperity of Dutch society in the 17th century.
Step-by-step explanation:
Genre Painting in Northern Europe
During the 15th century in Northern Europe, the development of genre painting took place, which is a style depicting ordinary people engaged in ordinary activities. Genre painting evolved from the realistic and detailed traditions of Early Netherlandish painting. Notable figures such as Hieronymus Bosch and Pieter Bruegel the Elder were pioneers, focusing on everyday life as their main subject matter. The genre flourished during the 17th century and became particularly significant in Flanders.
Examples of Flemish genre painting include Adriaen Brouwer, who illustrated scenes of peasants engaging in various activities such as fighting and drinking, often within indoor settings. Brouwer's works emphasized expressive facial studies known as 'tronies'. These paintings, along with landscape paintings that echoed pride in the Dutch countryside and still-lifes acknowledging the growing mercantile prosperity, marked a shift in art towards more secular themes and domestic settings.
The rise of genre painting paralleled the increasing wealth in Dutch society, with art patrons demanding works that reflected their environments and aspirations. Thus, genre paintings were not merely artistic expressions but also documents of social conditions, displaying both the comfort of the prosperous and the struggles of the less fortunate.