Concepts of Nationalism and Rights of Citizenship in the Ottoman State and Nations of the Empire1789 –1908

Abstract

From ancient times, civil conflicts have competed for the sake of expanding their hegemony of power over spheres such as the economic, political, religious, racial, and social. These conflicts compounded with nationalist thought in general were seen as dimensions of wars and conflicts in the 18th, l9th and 20th centuries. Against the historical background of the emergence of nationalistic concepts and concepts of the rights of citizens in nation-states, this study delves into the reasons for the Ottoman mindset and movements. Ottoman concepts in the Ottoman state affected the life-style and thought of individual nations within the Empire; the resultant clash and conflicts with external regional aspirations then played a role in the rise of nationalistic thought in the Ottoman state and nations of the Empire.

Many areas of traditional production are abandoned and the names and products of the commercial artists, who make these productions, disappear with the inclusion of computerized production. Car painting, which is performed by local artists of the period, is one of these productions. These commercial artists, who are educated in a non-formal way in mentor system, contribute not only to the urban memory and visual culture of the period, but also to determine the painting tradition of region because the artist’s style specified the style of the region. These artists paint cars, horse carriages, tractors and trailers, as well as signage when it is necessary. Considering that horse carriages were disappeared, that traditional production was abandoned and that apprentices were no longer trained, the evidence of the craftship, which almost fade into oblivion, disappear in time. In this study, the commercial artist Enver Ertaban, who was active in Bursa between the years 1939 and 1999, is discussed. Ertaban moved his fame out of Bursa and found himself a place in documentaries and received visitors from abroad with his talent. With this study, it is aimed to document the life and the productions of Enver Ertaban, who was one of the last representatives of car painting, and to take his place in the literature.