Academy of fine Arts for Women--Turkey

Academy of fine Arts for Women - Turkey

 

In 1914, The Ottoman government opened an Academy of Fine Arts for Girls (Inas Sanayi-i Nefise Mektebi). The new academy had a woman director, whose name was Mihri Musfik(1886-1954). She was the first female Turkish artist. First of all she received lessons from the palace artist, Zonaro. After this, she received art education in Italy and France, and served as the director and teacher in the Academy of Fine Arts for Girls. She then went once again to Italy and France and from there to the United States. She taught as an art professor and also gave private lessons in the United States. In 1926 the Woman's Academy merged with the Academy of Fine Arts. Two years later female and male students shared the same studios. This helped bring about equal education opportunities for girls and boys alike. In 1928, its name was changed to the State Academy of Fine Arts.  

 

In general, the first female students to enroll were the daughters of elite families. Among the female painters who enrolled were, Mihri Musfik, Melahat Ekinci, Sabiha Bozcali, Aliye Berger, Belkis Mustafa, Hale Asaf, Melek Celal and Malik Aksel. Aliye Berger has some good etchings and Hale Asaf's (1905-1938) work deserves careful research. Mihri Musfik, Belkis Mustafa, Hale Asaf and Melek Celal went abroad for an education in painting. Today Turkey has four generations of determined, recognized women painters. This well preceded later claims of the Ataturk Revolution and now men and women's equality.

 

Eren Eyuboglu(1913-1988) studied at the Andre Lhote Atelier in Paris between 1930-1932. She met Bedri Rahmi Eyuboglu in this period and they were married and settled in Istanbul. She opened exhibits in England, Germany, Belgium, New York and Turkey. Bedri Rahmi Eyuboglu, was much influenced by Raoul Dufy while his wife, Eren Eyuboglu, seems to have a different temperament. Considered as the best Turkish Women painter of 1950's, she constructs vigorously outlined, diagramatic figures in violently contrasting flat colors