The "Girl in Blue Shalwar" by Turkish artist Feyhaman Duran is a unique symbol of innocence. In his largest portrait of a woman by the artist, a young woman with an upright posture is depicted, seated—on an unseen armchair—in front of a screen decorated with botanical motifs. Her clothing draws our attention: she wears bright turquoise shalwar (traditional baggy trousers) paired with a üç etek—a three-skirted overgarment in chickpea beige, decorated with small scattered motifs in the same turquoise—and a crinkled blouse (bürümcük gömlek) trimmed with turquoise and orange embroidery. Her slim waist is cinched with a silver belt. The üç etek is widely used in traditional local dress, though it is not unique to Anatolia (aka Asia Minor or the large peninsula that forms the majority of modern-day Türkiye); it was once worn in the Ottoman palace as well. The young woman has draped a thin red scarf over her hair, likely serving as an accessory. Her face bears a calm, determined, yet content expression. Her gaze is fixed into the distance—as if toward the unknown. Her eyes harmonize with a faint smile on her lips, silently conveying a sense of hope that, while not overtly emphasized, is undeniably present. This is no arbitrary outfit—it is a carefully composed appearance made up of thoughtfully chosen garments. It seems less like the attire of an ordinary Anatolian woman and more like something that would be worn by a woman of higher social standing; yet, it still feels familiar and easily understandable to the general public. Born in Istanbul in 1886, Duran studied art in Paris at the Académie Julian and the Académie des Beaux-Arts in Fernand Cormon’s studio. He returned to Türkiye in 1914. He was appointed teacher of drawing at the Turkish School of Fine Arts in 1919. He was also a founding member of the Union of Fine Arts. In 1933, he joined the staff in the painting department at the school, where he remained until his retirement in 1951.
Mavi Şalvarlı Kız (The Girl in the Blue Shalwar) by Feyhaman Duran (Turkish) - Oil on canvas / 1948 - Türkiye İş Bankası Resim Heykel Müzesi (İstanbul) #WomenInArt #art #ArtText #artwork #FeyhamanDuran #TürkiyeİşBankası #PortraitofaWoman #TurkishArt #TurkishArtist #blueskyart #shalwar #fashion