Why were there so few religious paintings painted during this time period?

During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, there was a significant shift in artistic focus as artists moved away from traditional religious themes to explore more secular subjects, personal expression, and modernist ideas. The rise of movements such as Impressionism and later Abstract art emphasized individual experience and the exploration of light and color over religious iconography. Additionally, societal changes, including the decline of church authority and the increasing influence of science and rational thought, contributed to a diminished interest in religious subjects in art. Consequently, artists sought new inspirations that reflected contemporary life and personal or social issues.