Diyarbakırlı Tahsin (Tahsin Siret) - Turkish Painting Association

Who is Tahsin (Tahsin Siret) from Diyarbakır?

Tahsin Siret, known as a naval painter, painted old battleships waiting in the still waters of the Golden Horn, large ships coming and going to the port, steamers blowing their smoke in the waters of the Bosphorus, and sailboats sailing in the Marmara.

Tahsin from Diyarbakır, who started painting at a young age in Diyarbakır Junior High School, took lessons from the painter Nuri Pasha at Kuleli Istanbul Military High School. The artist, who was appreciated by Hodja Ali Rıza for his talent in painting, graduated from the cavalry class of the military academy in 1895.
While he was studying at Kuleli Military High School, he continued his tendencies and studies in painting and gained the appreciation of Osman Nuri Pasha with his talent in this field.

Later, he was appointed to the mapping branch of the Ministry of War in Istanbul. In 1902, he attended Sanayi-i Nefise Mektebi for a while. He served as a captain in 1906 and as a major in 1914, at the General Staff Picture School. He fell ill during World War I and retired in 1919. After that, he taught painting at the Jewish school in Beyoğlu and worked at the Seyri Sefain Administration Painting House. He died in his home in Kadıköy in 1937 and was buried in Karaca Ahmet Cemetery.

The painter, who was a lover of Istanbul, depicted old battleships waiting in the still waters of the Golden Horn, large ships coming and going to the port, steamboats blowing their smoke in the waters of the Bosphorus, and sailboats sailing in the Marmara.

Tahsin Bey worked at Erkan-ı Harbiyye-i Umumiyye Painting House between 1914-1918. During this duty, he was sent to the front to portray the Çanakkale naval battles. He participated in the 1918 Şişli Workshop and Vienna Exhibition. After retiring with the rank of major in 1919, he worked as an art teacher at the Beyoğlu Jewish School.
Tahsin Bey, who worked in the painting studio of the Seyr-i Sefain Administration, made works for the lounges and cabins of passenger ferries; He depicted the battleships and battles of the Turkish Navy.