Mehmet Ali Laga Click for Artist Information

Mehmet Ali Laga

MEHMET ALİ LAGA (1878 - 1947)

He was born in 1878 in Tripoli, in a noble family named "Zafirizade". He completed his primary and secondary education in Kuleli. He graduated from Harbiye in 1898 as an infantry engineer. He worked as a teacher in Kuleli High School and Bursa High School. His interest in art started at an early age. In his spare time, he carried out his first works by drawing continuous patterns. He received the close support of Hasan Rıza, who attended painting classes in Kuleli, and Hoca Ali Rıza in Harbiye. He joined the Ottoman Painters Society. During the Balkan Wars, he was in Edirne with Sami Yetik and lived a prison life in Sofia for a while. He died in Istanbul in 1947.

In addition to oil painting, his watercolor works show that he is an artist who has mastered his technique. Celal Esat Arseven describes him as "a powerful impressionist". He is among the first colorist masters of our painting art under the influence of the West. Especially the beach views, the sparkling effect of the waves on the land, the fruit groups in small plates are the main subjects he chooses. His paintings, which deal with the historical structures and natural beauties of regions such as Istanbul, Bursa and Edirne, represent the traditional aspect of our contemporary painting art, which is transferred from military-based artists to civilians.