Namık İsmail facts for kids
Namık İsmail (born in Samsun in 1890 – died in Istanbul on August 30, 1935) was a Turkish Impressionist painter. He was also an art teacher. He learned his painting skills in France.
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Early Life and Art Education
Namık İsmail was born into a well-off family. His family moved to Istanbul when he was a child. He went to public schools first. Later, he attended the Saint Benoit French High School in Istanbul.
His father was very interested in calligraphy (beautiful handwriting). This inspired Namık İsmail to take private art lessons. He learned from a teacher named Şevket Dağ. After finishing high school, his father sent him to Paris, France. This was so he could continue his art studies.
Studying Art in Paris
In 1911, Namık İsmail was accepted into the Académie Julian. This was a famous art school in Paris. Later, he joined the workshop of a well-known artist named Fernand Cormon.
However, Namık İsmail was more drawn to the style of artists like Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot. He also liked the Barbizon school of painting. These styles were different from Cormon's more traditional "Academic" style.
Return Home and War Service
Namık İsmail came home for a holiday. But he could not go back to France. This was because World War I had started. He served a short time in the army during the Caucasian Campaign. He had to leave the army after he got sick with typhus.
Art Career and Teaching
In 1917, Namık İsmail showed his paintings for the first time. This was at the "Galatasaray Exhibition". He won a silver medal for his work.
Soon after, he helped start an art workshop in Şişli. He worked with other artists like İbrahim Çallı and Sami Yetik. These artists became known as the "Çallı Generation."
Working in Berlin
Namık İsmail also traveled to Berlin, Germany. He showed his art there with Celal Esat Arseven. They stayed in Berlin for two years. During this time, they worked with famous German painters like Lovis Corinth and Max Liebermann.
Teaching and Family Life
In 1919, Namık İsmail returned to Turkey. He became an art teacher at the Osman Nuri Pasha Middle School. The next year, he married Mediha Hanım.
He later left his teaching job at the middle school. He wanted to travel in Italy to see more art. After coming back home, he worked as an editor for İleri. This was a newspaper that supported the idea of a republic in Turkey. He then became an assistant manager at the Sanayi-i Nefise Mektebi. This school is now known as the Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University.
Designing the Turkish Coat of Arms
In 1925, the Turkish Ministry of National Education held a contest. They wanted a new design for the Turkish coat of arms. This is like a country's official symbol.
Namık İsmail won the contest with his design. It featured an escutcheon (a shield shape). On it was Asena, a she-wolf from old Turkish folktales. However, his design was never officially used.
Director of the Academy
In 1928, Namık İsmail was made the director of the Academy of Fine Arts. He held this important position until he passed away. He died from a heart attack while riding on a ferry boat from Kadıköy.
