Muhsin Ertuğrul. Turan Tanyer Archive.
Art between Hammer and Anvil
Muhsin Ertuğrul (1892 – 1979)
Ertuğrul combined the modern theatre and cinema experience he acquired in Paris, Berlin, and Moscow with his knowledge of Turkey. He addressed performing arts both as a means to transform society and a way of popularizing aesthetic taste. He used the possibilities of German Expressionism and Soviet Futurism for the construction of the New Life; he was successful. Many institutions of theater and cinema founded during the Republican era bear his signature.
Muhsin Ertuğrul shooting a film at İpek Film Studio. Burçak Evren Archives.
A scene from Muhsin Ertuğrul’s film Leblebici Horhor Ağa, 1923. Burçak Evren Archives.
Newspaper ad for Bir Millet Uyanıyor, Muhsin Ertuğrul’s period drama about National Forces in the Turkish War of Independence, 1932. Burçak Evren Archives.
The exhibition Republic: New Individual New Life can be seen free of admissions until 17th May.