The history of modern Turkish painting can be traced back to the modernization efforts in the Ottoman Empire during the Tanzimat period, in the 19th century. This article contains a brief history of Turkish painters and art movements from the mid-19th century to the present.

Mid-19th century to early 20th century

Turkish painting, in the Western sense, developed actively starting from the mid-19th century.

  • Ferik İbrahim Paşa (1815–1891)
  • Osman Nuri Paşa (c.1839–1906)
  • Osman Hamdi Bey (1842–1910)
  • Şeker Ahmet Paşa (1841–1907)
  • Halil Paşa (c.1857–1939)
  • Hoca Ali Riza (1864–1939)

The very first painting lessons were scheduled at the Mühendishane-i Berri-i Humayun (Military School of Engineering) in 1793 mostly for technical purposes. Artists who formed the 19th-century art milieu were often from Ottoman military schools. Additionally, local Christian and "Levantine" artists, as well as foreign painters who lived in Istanbul and other parts of the Ottoman Empire, contributed to the art milieu in 19th century Turkey. Some Turkish artists, such as Osman Hamdi Bey, Şeker Ahmet Paşa, Süleyman Seyyid and Halil Paşa were educated in arts abroad. Others, such as Hüseyin Zekai Paşa, Hoca Ali Riza, and Ahmet Ziya Akbulut were educated within the country.

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File:Osman Hamdi Bey - Two Musician Girls - Google Art Project.jpg|Two Musician Girls by Osman Hamdi Bey

File:Osman Hamdi Bey - The Tortoise Trainer - Google Art Project.jpg|The Tortoise Trainer by Osman Hamdi Bey, 1906

File:Osman hamdy bey, vecchio davanti alle tombe di bambini, 1903.JPG|Work by Osman Hamdi Bey

File:Osman Hamdi Bey - Arzuhalci , Public Scribe - Google Art Project.jpg|Arzuhalci by Osman Hamdi Bey

MimosalıKadın.jpg|Woman with Mimosa by Osman Hamdi Bey

Boywearingafez.jpg|Boy Wearing a Fez (1882) by Osman Hamdi Bey

File:OttomanNavy.jpg|Ottoman Navy at Ortaköy in Painting Museum of Dolmabahçe Palace

HamdiKenan.jpg|Landscape by Hamdi Kenan (19th century)

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The "1914 Generation"

  • Nazmi Ziya Güran (1881–1937)

Contemporary trends that emphasize figure started to appear gradually in Turkey with the "1914 Generation". Figure and composition entered the Turkish painting for the first time in the Western sense with this generation. The İnas Sanayi-i Nefise Mektebi (School of Fine Arts for Girls) was founded for young women in 1914. Mihri Müşfik Hanım, and Feyhaman Duran were the first instructors.

A studio was built with army support in Şişli, a district of Istanbul, with Celal Esat Arseven's attempt in 1917. Hüseyin Avni Lifij's "Progress" and "War Allegory", İbrahim Çallı's "Cannon Carrier", 's "Stone Breakers" were the first examples of multi-figured and large dimensional compositions realised prior to and following this period.

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File:Nazmi Ziya Güran - Şezlongda Pembeli Kadın , Lady in Pink on a Chaise Longue - Google Art Project.jpg|Lady in Pink on a Chaise Longue (1904)

File:Mehmet Ruhi Arel.jpg|Model for a Male Body by Mehmet Ruhi Arel (1880–1931)

File:Portrait of Marashall Fevzi Çakmak.jpg|Portrait of Marashall Fevzi Çakmak by Hüseyin Avni Lifij

File:Namık İsmail.jpg|Woman Reclining on the Couch (Contemplation) by Namık İsmail (1917)

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The Independents (Müstakiller)

The young Turkish artists sent to Europe in 1926 came back inspired by contemporary trends such as Fauvism, Cubism and even Expressionism, still very influential in Europe, and they took a stand against the "1914 Generation" members. The important goals of this new group were, though not very absolute, pictorial design structure and linear foundation rather than impressionist colorism. The activities of the group, under the name of "Association of Independent Painters and Sculptors", expanded with the participation of new artists in 1928. The association's founders were mostly painters, such as:

  • Hale Asaf (1905–1938)
  • Muhittin Sebati (1901–1932)
  • Ratip Aşir Acudoğlu (1898–1957), sculptor

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File:Hale Asaf Otoportre.JPG|Self-portrait of Hale Asaf (1905–1938)

NamıkIsmail.jpg|Portrait: Standing Woman (1927) by Namık Ismail (1890–1935)

CemilCem1.jpg|Details of Veli Efendi Meadow by Cemil Cem (1882–1950)

CemilCem2.jpg|Details of Veli Efendi Meadow by Cemil Cem (1882–1950)

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During the 30s

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File:Portraitofawoman.jpg|Portrait of a woman by Nevin Edhem Hamdi (1910–1931) The painter died of Tuberculosis at the age of 21.

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"The Group D"

While the Müstakiller (the "Independents") opened the doors of contemporary trends in Turkey, we see a newly founded group in 1933 which would give greater support to these efforts and of which their effectiveness lasted until the 1950s: "Group D".

See also

  • Turkish art
  • Turkish women in fine arts

References