SHEPHERD THEME IN TURKISH PAINTING ART

Shepherding, with a rooted past as the human history, has become an occupation, learned and practiced based upon master-apprentice relationship by people growing up in countryside, which is seen and heard from childhood, providing more or less knowledge about it. Pasturing, watering, herding and selecting the place of pasture and sheltering for the animal herds are related with the knowledge, will and experience of the shepherd and therefore seen as an important occupation in Turkish culture. Cultural riches, customs and traditions are important elements, which create the existence and memory of the community and forge a link between people. One of these elements which create cultural riches is traditional occupations. When Turkish painting art is examined, it is seen that cultural riches, customs and traditions and traditional occupations are often referred. Shepherd occupation, which carries a significant role among traditional occupations, is addressed in many art branches such as paintings, novels and poetry and interpreted in various styles by artists, in every era of Turkish painting art. The aim of this study is to explain the importance of shepherd occupation which carry a significant role in Turkish culture and social life; to analyze the Works of Turkish painters from an aesthetic point and to show how it is reflected to the Turkish painting art. Literature review and work examination was conducted within qualitative research method. The works of artists who lived in various eras of Turkish painting art were examined and analyzed in order to reach a conclusion. Keywords: Shepherd, turkish painting art, art, painting