Untitled Etching (View of Istanbul)

Aliye Berger was one of modern Turkey’s earliest woman artists and most original printmakers. This print illustrates her distinct expressionist style, and her continuous engagement to capture the vibrant city of Istanbul where she lived and worked. Among her favorite subjects are city views, such as this depiction of Istanbul. Shown here is the Golden Horn area, with smaller and larger ships towards the center, a couple of the historic Ottoman monuments (one of which is probably Yavus Selim Mosque – of Sultan Selim I, r. 1512–1520) in the background, and the Galata neighborhood in the foreground. The view was likely taken from the Galata neighborhood, where the artist’s studio was in the Narmanli Han, likely from a point positioned high enough as to be able to see the Golden Horn and the monuments on the other side of the water. Berger, like many printmakers, worked over and sometimes hand-colored her prints after their production. In this print, one notes black cloud-like renderings that cover the drawing here and there. These dark additions increase the expressive style so characteristic of Aliye Berger.