Marine Painters: Halit Naci

Marine Painters: Halit Naci

Turkish painter Halit Naci was born in 1875 in Eyüp Sultan, Istanbul. Fabricator Osman Bey is Naci's father. It was understood that he was interested in painting from the first years he started school. His talent for art was discovered by his family with his continuous paintings. The paintings he made while continuing his education at the Naval School were especially liked by his teachers. This talent has managed to put him among the famous sailor painters. His teachers constantly encouraged Halit Naci. He drew the portrait of the Minister of the Navy Hüseyin Hüsnü Pasha upon the request of the director of the school. They presented the portrait he made with charcoal to the pasha. This portrait was highly appreciated by Hüseyin Hüsnü Pasha.

Halit Naci, who made a charcoal portrait of Sultan Abdülhamid II later, presented this portrait to the Sultan. Sultan Abdulhamit II liked this portrait very much. Afterward, he issued a special will and had the Sanay-i Nefise Mekteti accepted as a military student on leave. He started painting at this school, which is the Academy of Fine Arts. He proved his talent in the field of painting with his humorous inventions when he combined his fine and elegant intelligence with his strong line.

Halit Naci is one of the leading masters of folk humor. His first caricature was published in the 83rd issue of Karagöz in 1909. It can be said that almost every corner of Istanbul has passed through Naci's brush for many years. After his cartoon published in Karagöz, his paintings were published in humorous newspapers and magazines such as Coşkun Kalender, Yeni Geveze, Arzuhal, Hayal-i Cedit, Falaka, Köylü. The illustrator is one of the important masters in the field of cartoons and is among the first names that come to mind in this art branch.

He uses Istanbul images in the background of his cartoons. This feature is of documentary value today. The works of Halit Naci are exhibited in Istanbul Topkapı Palace Museum, Istanbul City Museum, and private museums. It is exhibited in these museums with private collections in our country and abroad.

It is known that he was listened to playing the guitar when he was doing intense studies. During such a rest, he had a heart attack while playing the guitar. As a result, he died in Istanbul at the age of 53. Halit Naci, our marine painter, left us, leaving behind his accomplishments at sea and his masterful paintings. It is possible to find traces of the seaman in his paintings.