The traditional family structure in Turkish painting art and the place of women in society in the context of Neşet Günal's paintings

Tradition shapes the lifestyles of individuals and societies as a phenomenon that evolves and transforms over time, influencing the cultural identity of communities passed down through generations. In Anatolian society, women and family serve as the cornerstones of traditional structure, playing a central role in the transformation of social and cultural frameworks. This research addresses traditional values, the concepts of women and family through the works of Neşet Günal, one of the significant representatives of the social realist art movement in Turkey. Depictions of women and family in Turkish society have been expressed through art across various historical periods. The traditional Turkish family structure and women have been articulated through strong figurative representation by the social realist Neşet Günal. The artist, who produces works in the social realist direction, concretely reflects the challenges of rural life, social class differences, and the effects of traditions on individuals and society in his works. By reflecting the periodic social reality of the society he lived in, Neşet Günal makes the effects of traditional values on human lives visible through his art. Günal's works reflect the harsh living conditions of rural villagers and the roles of women in society during different periods, creating a visual source for social values and beliefs. This research examines how the traditional family structure and the place of women in society are reflected in Turkish painting art through selected works of Neşet Günal. In the research, Günal's selected works have been evaluated using foreground and background analysis methods. The foreground analysis aims to examine the plastic and formal structures of the works. The background analysis seeks to understand the connections between the social, cultural, and economic conditions of the period in which the work was produced and the artist's artistic style. It is observed that there are limited comprehensive studies on Neşet Günal regarding traditional family structure and the place of women in society. This research aims to address this gap, revealing how Günal reflects traditional values, women, and family in his works. As a result, the findings obtained from the research demonstrate that the representations of tradition, art, and women in Neşet Günal's works serve as strong documents of the social structure of the period. Günal's works have become an important reflection of the social realism movement by addressing the societal roles of family and women figures within traditional values against the backdrop of the challenging living conditions of rural villagers. In this context, the research aims to contribute not only to art history but also to academic studies aimed at understanding the periodic social structure and traditional transformations, as well as to the field of art education.