Western style figure vision of Turkish art in 19. century

The present study investigates how figure was used in Western painting art in 19th century and how this style influenced Turkish art. To begin with, figure has been used in painting art as a form of expression. Figure has been an objective since the date on which it was carved on cave walls for the first time. Figure has been influenced by incidents of the community in which it has been created and has had various effects on painting art also. In the west, figure began by Greek art while it became popular during Renaissance and has always maintained this popularity. Gods were portrayed in the body of human in ancient Greek art while icons replaced real human body in early Christianity. On the other hand, perspective was introduced in painting with new rules in Renaissance era on which contemporary world formation. Ideal beauty was aimed to be achieved in figurative paintings by painters benefiting from antiquity and using perspective with respect to figure concept. Michelangelo using numerous figures in his paintings in 16th century influenced his successors. Mythological subjects were maintained to be depicted until 17th century while social facts became important upon the experienced social and political changes upon the industrial revolution in 18th century and the French revolution. In 19th century, traces of the past persisted while foundation of modern art was laid. While western art kept growing in such way, Turkish painting art was not open to novelties until 19th century. After that, it followed developments in the west closely. Considering Turkish painting before 19th century, it is seen that the art is limited by miniatures only. Turkish states depicted events that they experienced on miniatures with no light and shadow after they settled. Subjects that were depicted include war, hunting scenes, certain rituals and slices of everyday life. These paintings were begun to be used as book figures from 12th century. Thus, miniature art is assumed as the beginning of Turkish painting art. The fact that western painters came to our country and painted western style paintings after the conquest of Istanbul did not cause any progress in Turkish painting art because the paintings stayed within the palace and not made spread. Thus, no development occurred. The art continued through stylized depictions and miniatures. Matrakçı Nasuh depicted city scenes having topographic effect as miniatures. Levni, who is the famous painter during the tulip era in 17th century, did miniatures having perspective effect with light and shadow. In 18th century after these works accomplished in 17th century, restoration acts in military area caused certain developments in painting area. The rescript of Gülhane started reform acts after announced in 19th century. The first novelty in the military area was the fact that military school students were taught technical drawing. Teachers were brought from abroad and some of students were sent to abroad in the beginning of drawing education. Students, who were sent to Europe for military education, learned painting art. Furthermore, contribution of schools teaching painting at abroad was considered and various education institutes in similar type were opened in the country. Thanks to the education offered in such schools, Turkish painting art started to grow. Painters, who were taught painting, initially produced still life and scenery paintings while small figures or figures in the form of silhouette took place in artworks of some painters later. Most part of artworks produced by Şeker Ahmet Paşa and Süleyman Seyyid, who are among such painters, consists of still life. In this period, especially Osman Hamdi Bey, Halil Paşa, Hoca Ali Rıza, and Şehzade Abdülmecid Efendi give figurative paintings more place in their artworks. However, Osman Hamdi Bey, who placed figure in Turkish painting, did paintings suggesting his culture. Similarly, Halil Paşa also did many paintings including figures besides scenery paintings. Photograph has been benefited for figurative paintings by both of domestic and foreign painters. Thus, camera has a special importance in painting. The use of photograph has increased subject diversification. Photograph has been benefited mostly especially in paintings including orientalist subjects. Figurative painting has always occupied an important place as a result of affairs influencing Turkish and western art because human figures are used in depiction of human-centered incidents also. Thus, figurative painting has changed according to features of each period. Cultural changes, which were experienced, have created processes of painting art in western art while influences of such changes on Turkish art that closed itself to the west did not emerge before 19th century. Keywords: 19th century Turkish painting art, European painting art, figure, figurative picture.