I noticed that the vast majority of “famous” paintings (at least in the Western world) were painted on canvas. How did canvas become the most popular medium for painters? Seems like it’s essentially just cloth, which doesn’t seem ideal for painting. Wouldn’t metal be more durable, wood more accessible at the time, and parchment more transportable?
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Canvas was cheap, versatile and readily available. Used primarily for boat sails, it was easily adopted for painting.
Metal is more durable, but a horrible surface to paint on. It does not absorb any paint and even when textured the paint will eventually fall off.
Wood is more accessible but has many drawbacks. It takes time to properly dry wood. Do it wrong and your artwork cracks over time. And wood is subject to deterioration over time. It is also heavy; a large canvas is much lighter than the same sized wood panel.
Parchment is more transportable but does not hold paint well and will crack over time.
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