Visual representation of urban memory and everyday culture in Hoca Ali Rıza's street-themed paintings

This study examines the street-themed paintings of Hoca Ali Rıza, who lived during the transitional period from the Ottoman Empire to the Republic, in terms of their visual representation of urban memory and everyday culture. The modernization process that accelerated in the late 19th century brought significant changes to daily life practices in Ottoman society, and these transformations were reflected in the arts. Hoca Ali Rıza portrayed the old streets, wooden houses, fountains, and simple lifestyle of Istanbul—particularly in the district of Üsküdar—not only to document the spatial traces of the past but also to treat them as carriers of cultural memory. The research is based on a qualitative methodology, employing descriptive, iconographic, and iconological analyses of selected artworks. Spatial motifs such as streets, coffeehouses, and fountains, along with everyday figures like children and street vendors, are examined to interpret how these visual elements reflect the socio-cultural structure of the period. Additionally, the study explores the relationship between the artist's documentary approach and his aesthetic choices. The findings reveal that Hoca Ali Rıza was not merely a landscape painter but also a visual historian who played a pioneering role in preserving urban memory through his art.