Woman figure on Turkish miniature art of 18th century

Female-themed figures had been used frequently for the early ages, sometimes they had represented the mother goddess, sometimes fruitfulness, and sometimes the lover who was subject of legendary love. In Turkish art, it had been depicted in different periods, in different geographical areas, in different beliefs and in different ways. The nomadic life of the old Turkish communities had included women in social life, women and men had completed each other and ensured equality between them. However, Turkish society's resettlement, contacting to Arab, Persian and Byzantium cultures had changed social status of women significantly. The women had been directed to live behind the men, and to get away from all areas of life and to take care of domestic works and also forced to live seclusion reclusively. This situation was concurrent with the women's withdrawal from the depiction arts and the female figure was the subject of few studies gradually. In this thesis, the women figures on the Ottoman miniature in scope of 18th century will be handled. The Ottoman women had a non-homogenous structure in many aspects and the most important documents carrying this diversity to our nowadays were the miniatures, miniatures were important visual data that reflecting the period in when they were made. It was examined by making contact with the conditions of the period by referring to the women figures, which containing important clues about the life, social status, position and clothing of women in various albums and dress typology made in the 18th century. During the period, it was tried to analyze the way of women figures were handled, and in which subjects how women figures were depicted and what roles were portrayed on the depiction arts. The determined women figures were arranged in chronological order, categorized, followed development, stylistic features were revealed. It is aimed that this study which is carried through miniatures included women figures made in the 18th century would contribute to the writing of women's history and bring light on similar studies by creating a link between different disciplines.