？stanbul Theme in the Paintings of “1914” Generation Artists

1914 Generation is an artist community which pursued its existence during the transition process between the last years of Ottoman Empire and the first years of The Republic of Turkey and named as ‘’？all？ Generation’’ or also ‘’Turkish Impressionists’’ that was sent for taking art education at Academie des Beaux Arts in Paris after their art education at Sanay-i Nefise Mektebi Alisi (School of Fine Arts) but they were obliged to return to the country with leaving their education undone with the beginning of World War I. They took the name of ‘’1914 Generation Painters’’ in Turkish Painting due to their return year which coincides the year of 1914. ？brahim ？all？, Nam？k ？smail, Nazmi Ziya Güran, H. Avni Lifij, Feyhaman Duran, Mehmet Ruhi Arel, Sami Yetik and Ali Sami Boyar are the names that generate the community. Those artists who reach academic drawing competence as a result of the art education taken in Paris showed a tendency to colorist attitude of Impressionism in addition to solidity of drawing in their paintings with being affected by the Impressionist painting perception that they met in those years. Their tendency has come into existence with their distinctive style in painting types such as landscape, portrait and still life with their return to the country. Especially they chose Istanbul and its around as location in their landscape paintings that they have performed outdoor. Small sized oil paintings they performed outdoor at one time, the streets of Istanbul that they did thereafter with detailed works, houses, historical buildings, coasts and Bosphorus views at all hours of the day and night in all aspects has become the favorite subjects of “1914 Generation” artists. Istanbul theme which has been the subject of many artists from past to present is described with a plastic language in the context of “1914 Generation” artists’ perspectives and interpretations and it stayed as heritage that is an artistic product today