The history of modern Turkish painting can be traced back to the modernization efforts in the

Ottoman Empire The Ottoman Empire, * ; is an archaic version. The definite article forms and were synonymous * and el, Оθωμανική Αυτοκρατορία, Othōmanikē Avtokratoria, label=none * info page on book at Martin Luther University) ...

during the

Tanzimat The Tanzimat (; ota, تنظيمات, translit=Tanzimāt, lit=Reorganization, ''see'' nizām) was a period of reform in the Ottoman Empire that began with the Gülhane Hatt-ı Şerif in 1839 and ended with the First Constitutional Era in 1876. ...

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 Turkish may refer to: *a Turkic language spoken by the Turks * of or about Turkey ** Turkish language *** Turkish alphabet ** Turkish people, a Turkic ethnic group and nation *** Turkish citizen, a citizen of Turkey *** Turkish communities and mi ...

painting Painting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a solid surface (called the "matrix" or "support"). The medium is commonly applied to the base with a brush, but other implements, such as knives, sponges, and ...

, in the Western sense, developed actively starting from the mid 19th century. * Ferik İbrahim Paşa (1815–1891) *

Osman Nuri Paşa Osman Nuri Pasha ( ota, عثمان نوری پاشا‎; 1832, Tokat, Ottoman Empire – 4 to 5 April 1900, Constantinople, Ottoman Empire), also known as Ghazi Osman Pasha ( tr, Gazi Osman Paşa), was an Ottoman Empire, Ottoman field mars ...

(c.1839–1906) * Osman Hamdi Bey (1842–1910) *

Şeker Ahmet Paşa Şeker, meaning "sugar", is a masculine Turkish given name, which also appears as a surname. Given name * Şeker Ahmet Paşa, Turkish painter Surname * Alişan Şeker (born 1986), Turkish footballer * Busem Şeker (born 1998), Turkish-German wo ...

(1841–1907) * Halil Paşa (c.1857–1939) *

Hoca Ali Riza Hoca is the Turkish spelling of the Persian word Khawaja (Persian: خواجه ''khwāja, khâjeh''), used as a title, given name or surname. As a title, Hoca (variant ''Hodja'') means “master” and is commonly used for teachers, professors ...

(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 Christians () are people who follow or adhere to Christianity, a monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. The words ''Christ'' and ''Christian'' derive from the Koine Greek title ''Christós'' (Χρι ...

and "

Levant The Levant () is an approximate historical geographical term referring to a large area in the Eastern Mediterranean region of Western Asia. In its narrowest sense, which is in use today in archaeology and other cultural contexts, it is eq ...

ine" artists, as well as foreign painters who lived in

Istanbul Istanbul ( , ; tr, İstanbul ), formerly known as Constantinople ( grc-gre, Κωνσταντινούπολις; la, Constantinopolis), is the List of largest cities and towns in Turkey, largest city in Turkey, serving as the country's economic, ...

and other parts of the Ottoman Empire, contributed to the art milieu in 19th century Turkey. Some Turkish artists, such as Osman Hamdi Bey,

, Süleyman Seyyid and Halil Paşa were educated in arts abroad. Others, such as Hüseyin Zekai Paşa,

, and

Ahmet Ziya Akbulut Ahmet Ziya Akbulut (27 June 1869, Constantinople - 17 April 1938, Istanbul) was a Turkish landscape and architectural painter. Biography He attended Kuleli Military High School, then went to the Turkish Military Academy and studied art with Osma ...

were educated within the country. 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 ''The Tortoise Trainer'' ( Turkish: ''Kaplumbağa Terbiyecisi'') is a painting by Osman Hamdi Bey, with a first version created in 1906 and a second in 1907. Hamdi's painting of an anachronistic historical character attempting to train tortoises ...

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)

The "1914 Generation"

Nazmi Ziya Güran Nazmi Ziya Güran (1881 – 11 September 1937) was a Turkish Impressionist painter and art teacher. Biography He was born in Istanbul. His father was a civil servant. He attended Vefa Lisesi, Turkey's first non-military high school,Mihri Müşfik Hanım Mihri Müşfik Hanım ( ota, مهری مشفیق خانم; born Mihri Rasim Achba; 26 February 1886 – 1954) was an Abkhazian princess and painter who became one of the first and most renowned female painters in Turkey. She was recognized espe ...

, and

Feyhaman Duran Feyhaman Duran (Sept. 17, 1886 – May 6, 1970) was a Turkish artist. Biography He was born in Istanbul in 1886. After graduating from Galatasaray High School, he was sent to Paris by Halim Paşa to study painting. He became a student of Jean- ...

were the first instructors. A studio was built with army support in Şişli, a district of Istanbul, with

Celal Esat Arseven Celal Esat Arseven (1875 – 13 November 1971) was a Turkish painter, writer and politician. He made contributions to various fields, including photography, literary art history, theater, cinema, architecture and urbanism. He was one of the firs ...

's attempt in 1917.

Hüseyin Avni Lifij Hüseyin Avni Lifij (1886, Ladik - 2 June 1927, Istanbul) was a Turkish impressionist painter of Circassian origin. He is best known for landscapes with architectural features. Biography His family emigrated from Sochi to Ladik during the Grea ...

's "''Progress''" and "''War Allegory''",

İbrahim Çallı İbrahim Çallı (13 July 1882 in Çal – 22 May 1960 in İstanbul) was a Turkish painter. He is popularly known as Çallı İbrahim. Biography İbrahim Çallı was born in Çal, Denizli. He showed early interest in painting during his primary ...

's "''Cannon Carrier''",

Mehmet Ruhi Mehmed (modern Turkish: Mehmet) is the most common Bosnian and Turkish form of the Arabic name Muhammad ( ar, محمد) (''Muhammed'' and ''Muhammet'' are also used, though considerably less) and gains its significance from being the name of Muha ...

's "''Stone Breakers''" were the first examples of multi-figured and large dimensional compositions realised prior to and following this period. File:Group of Painters by Feyhaman Duran.jpg, Group of Painters (1921) by Feyhaman Duran (1896 - 1970) 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:Ali Avni Celebi.jpg, Maskeli Balo (1928) by Ali Avni Çelebi File:Namık İsmail.jpg, Woman Reclining on the Couch (Contemplation) by Namık İsmail (1917) File:İbrahim Çallı.jpg, Portrait of a Woman by İbrahim Çallı (1882 - 1960)

The Independents (Müstakiller)

The young Turkish artists sent to Europe in 1926 came back inspired by contemporary trends such as

Fauvism Fauvism /ˈfoʊvɪzm̩/ is the style of ''les Fauves'' (French language, French for "the wild beasts"), a group of early 20th-century modern artists whose works emphasized painterly qualities and strong colour over the Representation (arts), repr ...

Cubism Cubism is an early-20th-century avant-garde art movement that revolutionized European painting and sculpture, and inspired related movements in music, literature and architecture. In Cubist artwork, objects are analyzed, broken up and reassemble ...

and even

Expressionism Expressionism is a modernist movement, initially in poetry and painting, originating in Northern Europe around the beginning of the 20th century. Its typical trait is to present the world solely from a subjective perspective, distorting it rad ...

, 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 Hale Asaf, originally Hale Saliha (1905, Istanbul - 31 May 1938, Paris) was a Turkish painter of Georgian, Abkhazan and Circassian ancestry. She was the niece of Turkey's first female artist, Mihri Müşfik Hanım. Unlike many Turkish artists of ...

(1905–1938) *

Muhittin Sebati Muhittin Sebati (1901, Amasya - 1932, Istanbul) was a Turkish Post-impressionist painter and sculptor. Biography He was orphaned at an early age. After a brief period in the public schools, he entered the Darüşşafaka Association school

(1901–1932) *

Ratip Aşir Acudoğlu Ratip Aşir Acudoğlu (also known as Ratip Aşir Acudoğu; 1898 – 17 January 1957) was a Turkish people, Turkish sculptor. Acudoğlu was a student of Ihsan Özsoy in Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University, Fine Arts Academy of Istanbul. He also studi ...

(1898–1957), sculptor 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)

During the 30s

Halil_Dikmen.jpg, Peasant Women by Halil Dikmen (1906 - 1982) TurgutZaim.jpg, Triptych: Doğu ve Batı Halkının Atatürk'e Şükranı (1933) by Turgut Zaim (1906 - 1974) TurgutZaim2.jpg, Triptych: Doğu ve Batı Halkının Atatürk'e Şükranı (1933) by Turgut Zaim (1906 - 1974) Melek_Celal_Sofu.jpg, Woman Taking Floor at the Old Grand National Assembly in 1936 painted by a female artist Melek Celal Sofu (1896 - 1976) File:Portraitofawoman.jpg, Portrait of a woman by Nevin Edhem Hamdi (1910 - 1931) The painter died of Tuberculosis at the age of 21.

"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". Group members were: * Abidin Dino (1913–1993) The most significant distinction of "Group D" from the "Independents" was perhaps that they had gathered around a certain aesthetics with solidarity in determination to defend the new trends they wanted to bring in. "Group D" had not been representative of any particular view. They were open to anything new except Impressionism. The star of the Çallı generation faded away gradually after the "Independents" and "Group D" members had started to work at the Academy. * Cemal Tollu (1899–1968) *

Bedri Rahmi Eyuboğlu Bedri is a Turkish given name for males. Notable people with the name include: *Bedri Baykam (born 1957), Turkish artist * Bedri Omuri (born 1957), Albanian footballer *Bedri Pejani (1885–1946), Albanian politician *Bedri Rahmi Eyüboğlu Be ...

(1911–1975) Besides all this progress, from the beginning there had also been independent artists. Among these * Fikret Mualla * Adnan Coker (born 1927) *

Fahrunissa Zeid Fahrelnissa Zeid (, ''Fakhr un-nisa'' or ''Fahr-El-Nissa''; 7 January 1901 – 5 September 1991) was a Turkish artist best known for her large-scale abstract paintings with kaleidoscopic patterns as well as her drawings, lithographs, and sculptu ...

(1901–1991) *

Burhan Doğançay Burhan C. Doğançay (11 September 1929 – 16 January 2013) was a Turkish-American artist. Doğançay is best known for tracking walls in various cities across the world for half a century, integrating them in his artistic work. Biography ...

(1929–2013) File:Yahsi_baraz.jpg, Yahşi Baraz in front of Burhan Doğançay's work

The Newcomers Group (Yeniler Grubu) (late 1930s)

The Newcomers Group, (Yeniler Grubu) was formed by those who had a social realist understanding. After they opening of their "Harbour Paintings Exhibition", they had been remembered as the "Harbour Painters". *

Avni Arbaş Avni Arbaş (1919 – October 16, 2003) was a Turkish painter of Circassian descent. Arbaş was born in Istanbul, in the Constantinople Vilayet of the Ottoman Empire. He is best known for his paintings of scenes from daily life in Turkey, the T ...

(1919–2003)

Other

* Abidin Elderoğlu *

Ercument Kalmik Ercüment Kalmık (1909 in Istanbul – February 21, 1971 in Istanbul) was an artist and art historian, known for his work in studying the lyrical-abstract Turkish painters . After completing high school at the Galata Scottish Mission, Kalmik s ...

Nese Erdok Nese may refer to: * Nese, Italy, a village in northern Italy * Nese, Norway, a village in south-western Norway * Nese language, an Oceanic language or dialect spoken in Vanuatu *Tony Nese, American professional wrestler See also * Neşe Neşe is a ...

Eren Eyüboğlu Eren Eyüboğlu ( née Ernestine Leibovici; 1913–1988) was a Romanian-born Turkish painter, ceramicist, and mosaic artist. She is considered one of the forerunners of modernism in Turkey. Biography Ernestine Leibovici was born on 5 February ...

Sabri Berkel Sabri Fetah Berkel (1907–1993) was a Turkish-Albanian modernist painter; he was one of the most important painters and academic personalities of the last century in Turkey. Berkel was born in Skopje, where, in 1927, he completed high school at a ...

File:Ercument Kalmik mosaic in 4.Levent Istanbul.jpg, Ercument Kalmik mosaic in 4.Levent Istanbul

During the 50s

Turkish painting has continued to flourish since the 1960s, with an increasing rate of development, as evidenced by many new artists in many different styles. NuruhllahBerk.jpg, Ütü Yapan Kadın (1950) by Nuruhllah Berk (1906 - 1982) Cevat_Dereli.jpg, Harman (1956) by Cevat Dereli Halil_Dikmen2.jpg, Balıkçılar (1958) by Halil Dikmen (1906 - 1964) MaideArel.jpg, Tarihi Neyzen (1961) by Maide Arel (1907 - 1997) HamitGörele.jpg, Atom by Hamit Görele (1894 - 1980)

During the 60s

The

Siyah Qalam The album of Muḥammad Siyāh Qalam or Siāh-Qalam (; fa, محمد سیاه‌ قَلَم; tr, Mehmed Siyah Kalem) comprise around 80 extant late 14th and early 15th century paintings folios, ink drawings (''qalam-siāhi''), and calligraphies, ...

Group Siyah Kalem group founded in 1960 in Ankara. They influenced by the 14th and early 15th century painter

. * İhsan Cemal Karaburçak * Cemal Bingöl * İsmail Altınok * Ayşe Sılay * Selma Arel * Lütfü Günay * Asuman Kılıç * Solmaz Tugaç İhsanCemal.jpg, From Kızılcahamam by İshan Cemal Karaburçak (1987 - 1969) The 1968 Generation * Alaettin Aksoy * Gürkan Coşkun * Mehmet Güleryüz *

Neşe Erdok Neş'e Erdok (born 1940 in Istanbul, Turkey) is a Turkish painter. She is a contemporary-figurative art Figurative art, sometimes written as figurativism, describes artwork (particularly paintings and sculptures) that is clearly derived from r ...

* Nevhiz Metin * Ömer Kaleşi * Utku Varlık Reşat_Atalık.jpg, Devil and Three Operas (1962) by Reşat Atalık (1935 - 2013) SalomeÖzdemir.jpg, Salome (1961) by Özdemir Altan MezarTaşları.jpg, Tomb Stones (1967) by Cihat Burak (1915 - 1994) NedimGünsür.jpg, Festival Ground (1961) by Nedim Günsür (1924 - 1994) ChimneysNedimGünsür.jpg, Chimneys (1960) by Nedim Günsür (1924 - 1994) OduncularNeşetGünal.jpg, Lumberjacks (1961) by Neşet Günal (1923 - 2012) NesetGünal2.jpg, Painting by Neşet Günal (1923 - 2012) Nesetgünal.jpg, Painting by Neşet Günal (1923 - 2012) Korkuluk.jpg, Korkuluk by Neşet Günal (1923 - 2012)

During the 70s

Suda_Üç_Figur.jpg, Suda Üç Figur (1970) by Gürkan Coşkun (Komet) MaviKuş.jpg, Blue Bird (1977) by Utku Varlık Cihat_Aral.jpg, Komposizyon (1979) by Cihat Aral Mağdenciler.jpg, Mağdenciler by Yılmaz Demirağ

Social Realists

* Seyyit Bozdoğan * Cihat Aral * Kasım Koçak *

Aydın Ayan Aydın ( ''EYE-din''; ; formerly named ''Güzelhisar'', Ancient and Modern Greek: Τράλλεις /''Tralleis''/) is a city in and the seat of Aydın Province in Turkey's Aegean Region. The city is located at the heart of the lower valley of ...

* Kemal İskender *

Hüsnü Koldaş Hüsnü ( ar, حسني) is a Turkish masculine given name. It is also used as a surname. People with the name include: Given name First name *Hüsnü Çakırgil (born 1965), Turkish basketball player *Hüsnü Doğan (born 1944), Turkish politician ...

* Nedret Sekban * TurgutAtalay * Mehmet Aksoy File:TurgutAtalay.jpg, Figure by Turgut Atalay (1918 - 2004) Nevzat_Akoral.jpg, Pazarda Arabacılar (1967) by Nevzat Akoral (1926 - 2016)

During the 70s and after

Predominent painters with Fantastic tendencies: *

Balkan Naci İslimyeli The Balkans ( ), also known as the Balkan Peninsula, is a geographical area in southeastern Europe with various geographical and historical definitions. The region takes its name from the Balkan Mountains that stretch throughout the whol ...

* Ergin İnan * Burhan Uygur Mevlüt_Akyıldız.jpg, Circus of Dreamland by Mevlüt Akyıldız Hüsnü_Koldaş.jpg, Motorcu (1986) by Hüsnü Koldaş Kemal_İskender.jpg, Çemberde Niyet (1980) by Kemal İskender SeyyitBozdogan.jpg, Endüstriyel Yüz Manzarası (1987) by Seyyit Bozdoğan Zekai_Ormancı.jpg, Silüet by Zekai Ormancı (1949 - 2018) TemürKöran.jpg, İsimsiz by Temür Köran Contemporary Painters: * Haluk Akakce (born 1970) *

Bedri Baykam Bedri Baykam is a Turkish artist. Early life Baykam was born in Ankara, Turkey. Baykam's father, Dr. Suphi Baykam, is a deputy in the Turkish parliament, and his mother, Mutahhar Baykam, is an architectural engineer. Baykam studied at Sorbonne ...

(born 1957) * Setenay Ozbek (born 1961) writer, artist and documentary maker. * Genco Gulan (born 1969) contemporary conceptual artist and theorist. *

Nedim Günal Nadeem (also spelled Nadim or Nedim; ar, نديم) is an Arabic masculine given name. It means "best friend of the drinker" "companion", "confidant" or "friend". Originates from the plural word "Nadama""نَدامَى" which means, drink to forg ...

* Nedim Gürsür *

Hayal Pozanti Hayal Pozanti (born 1983, Istanbul, Turkey) is a Turkish-born artist, based in the United States. She is known for her large scale, brightly colored, seemingly abstract and geometric paintings, that represent statistical data related to human-co ...

(born 1983) painter of data visualization, based in the United States. *

Sevil Soyer Sevil Soyer (born 1950) is a Turkish interdisciplinary artist. Soyer has had solo exhibitions and group exhibitions along with several installations in Turkey and the United States. Early life She was born in Turkey and graduated in 1979 from ...

(born 1950) figurative painting and glass artist.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:History Of Modern Turkish Painting

Turkish art Turkish contemporary art