Mardin 

Nuri Iyem made this painting, "Mardin," with oil on canvas. The woman’s veil and the buildings behind her are suggestive of life in the Middle East, but this image goes further than orientalist cliché. It's important to remember that Iyem was a prominent figure in Turkish painting, tied to left-wing political causes. She was associated with the “New Realists,” a group of artists who focused on the lives of ordinary people and brought attention to social issues through their art. Given this context, we might read the painting as a commentary on the role of women in Turkish society. The veil, while a cultural symbol, can also represent constraints on freedom and expression. The city itself, depicted in muted colors, could suggest the weight of tradition. As art historians, we delve into the artist’s biography, the social context of Turkey at the time, and critical writings about the New Realists. This helps us understand how the painting speaks to the social and institutional forces shaping Turkish society.