Maiden’s Tower by Day

Up until now, almost every canvas I touched was born from the quiet depths of my inner world. Visual aesthetics were rarely my starting point; my brush sought feeling over form. Yet one day, a rare urge stirred within me—a desire to step outside the familiar walls of my home and to capture what lay directly before my eyes. Sitting in a Bosphorus café opposite the Maiden’s Tower, I painted it in its newest form (following a recent renovation). But the ‘restoration’ of this beloved landmark feels more like it was demolished and rebuilt from scratch. (An opinion widely described in the news as a ‘disaster.’) To my eyes, its ancient soul has been stripped away, leaving behind a colder, soulless reflection. And what of the Boatman? As always, he remains a gentle bridge anchored between harsh reality and the warmth of imagination. This piece carries less of my usual inward solitude. Perhaps for that very reason it reflects a deeply personal kind of realism.

Gouache on paper, 20 x 20 cm, 200 USD

If you are interested in purchasing this painting, click on the price to automatically set up an email to Berkan.

The actual Maiden’s Tower stands in the distance. Its name reflects an ancient legend in which a king isolates his daughter on this tiny island to protect her from a prophecy that she would succumb to the bite of a snake. Tragically, a snake hiding in a delivered basket of fruit resulted in her death.