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Hasan Saygin

About Hasan Saygin

Renaissance nudes meet abstract realism, painted in Paris

Hasan Saygin was born in 1958 in Karamanli, a small village in Anatolia, Turkey. He spent his childhood there and completed his primary education in his native town. In 1977, he entered the School of Fine Arts in Istanbul, where he honed his skills.

In 1982, he moved to Paris and settled permanently, dedicating himself fully to painting. He has held numerous solo exhibitions in Parisian galleries, including Galerie 26 and Galerie Vendome, as well as in Belgium, Spain, and the United States. He has also participated in many group exhibitions and received numerous awards and medals.

  • Bare-shouldered woman with dark hair in a bun rests her face on folded hands over a dark grey block
    Hasan Saygin, woman resting on folded hands, painting dated 2015.
    A woman with dark hair gathered in a bun rests her face on her folded hands over a dark grey block, eyes closed. Warm light falls on her shoulders and bracelets against a pale grey background. The spare composition shows Saygin's restrained realism. Signed and dated 2015.
  • Portrait of a small blonde girl with blue eyes and bangs in a lilac sweater against a soft grey background
    Hasan Saygin, Lana, painting dated 22 April 2016.
    A small girl with blonde bangs and clear blue eyes looks up at the viewer, wearing a lilac sweater. The inscription names the portrait "Lana" and dates it 22 April 2016. Saygin contrasts the finely detailed face with loosely brushed clothing.
  • Young woman with dark hair pinned up, blue-green eyes and red lips wearing a fine pendant necklace, green and orange background
    Hasan Saygin, young woman with a pendant necklace, dated 2015.
    A young woman with dark hair pinned up, blue-green eyes and red lips looks over her bare shoulder, a delicate pendant at her throat. Soft green and orange strokes fill the background. Signed and dated 2015; the medium appears to be pastel, not confirmed.
  • Grey-haired artist holding pastel pencils works on a large portrait of a woman wrapped in a red shawl
    Artist at work on a portrait of a woman in a red shawl.
    A grey-haired artist holding several pastel pencils leans close to a large unfinished portrait of a dark-haired woman draped in a red shawl. Her face is complete while the body remains a sketch. The man is likely Hasan Saygin, though the photograph does not confirm it.
  • Curly-haired young woman rests her chin on her arms over a wooden chair, silver and striped bead bracelets on her wrists
    Hasan Saygin, young woman leaning on a chair back.
    Gallery version of the featured painting. A young woman with dark curly hair rests her chin on crossed arms over a wooden chair, looking down thoughtfully. Soft daylight models her face and colorful bracelets against a pale grey wall.
  • Woman with auburn curls in a blue paisley dress hugs her knees before moss-covered tree trunks in a misty forest
    Hasan Saygin, woman in a mossy forest, painting dated 2017.
    A woman with auburn curls and drop earrings sits hugging her knees in a blue paisley dress, glancing aside. Behind her rise tree trunks thick with bright green moss in a misty forest. The detailed figure and looser background reflect Saygin's blend of realism and abstraction. Signed and dated 2017.
  • Older man with long grey hair and a full white curly beard wearing a red ribbed sweater against a dark background
    Hasan Saygin, bearded man in a red sweater, dated 2017.
    An older man with long grey hair and a full curly white beard looks at the viewer with a slight squint, wearing a red ribbed sweater. Soft light from one side models his face against a dark olive background. Signed and dated 2017; the sitter is not identified.
  • Portrait of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk with blue eyes in a black tailcoat, white bow tie and pocket square, red background
    Hasan Saygin, portrait of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, dated 2016.
    Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, founder of the Republic of Turkey, is shown from a low angle in a black tailcoat, white bow tie and pocket square, gazing into the distance. The deep red background echoes the Turkish flag. Signed and dated 2016.
  • Elderly bearded man in a green cap and striped sweater sits on a pink stool beside a shoeshine box with polish jars
    Hasan Saygin, old shoeshine man resting on a stool.
    An elderly man in a green knit cap and striped sweater sits on a small pink stool beside a wooden shoeshine box with jars of polish, a black bag at his feet. The plain pale wall isolates the figure, giving an everyday street scene a quiet dignity.
  • Woman in a white headscarf seen from behind riding a donkey loaded with sacks of sunflowers and green fodder
    Hasan Saygin, villager riding a donkey with sunflowers.
    Seen from behind, a woman in a white headscarf and blue jacket rides a donkey laden with white sacks, sunflowers and green fodder. The detailed figure emerges from a loose, textured grey background, showing Saygin's mix of realism and abstract surface. Signed lower right.
  • Shirtless wrestlers in black leather kispet trousers grapple on grass as water splashes, abstract textured background
    Hasan Saygin, oil wrestlers grappling on the grass.
    Shirtless wrestlers in black leather kispet trousers grapple on wet grass in the tradition of Turkish oil wrestling, known as yagli gures. Splashing water and abstract washes of color surround the precisely painted, muscular figures. Signed lower right.
  • Row of shirtless wrestlers in black leather trousers stands on green grass, some figures fading into abstract washes
    Hasan Saygin, oil wrestlers lined up on the field.
    A line of shirtless wrestlers in black leather kispet trousers stands on green grass before a match, a ritual of Turkish oil wrestling. Several figures dissolve into ochre and brown washes, a mix of realism and abstraction typical of Saygin. Signed lower right.
  • Yellow quinces with green leaves beside a copper coffee pot and tall ewer on a draped white cloth, dark background
    Hasan Saygin, still life with quinces and copper ewers.
    Golden quinces with green leaves sit on a crumpled white cloth beside a small copper coffee pot and a tall engraved ewer. Strong light against a dark green background recalls classical still life painting, a genre Saygin returns to often. Signed lower right.
  • Wicker basket filled with yellow quinces and leaves on a white cloth, one quince beside it, dark background
    Hasan Saygin, basket of quinces, painting dated 2015.
    A wicker basket filled with ripe yellow quinces rests on a draped white cloth, with a single quince and leafy stems beside it. The black background makes the fruit glow. Signed and dated 2015 at lower left.
  • Old wooden fishing boat tilting in clear shallow water held by a rusty chain, pebbles visible beneath, hazy sky
    Hasan Saygin, abandoned fishing boat in shallow water.
    A weathered fishing boat lists in calm, clear shallows, tethered by a rusty chain and ropes, its masts leaning against a hazy amber and blue sky. Pebbles show through the transparent water. The work appears to be watercolor, which is not confirmed. Signed lower left.
  • Tulip-shaped glass of Turkish tea on a saucer with sugar cubes and a spoon beside a red enamel teapot
    Hasan Saygin, Turkish tea with a red teapot, dated 2015.
    A tulip-shaped glass of dark Turkish tea sits on a saucer with sugar cubes and a spoon beside a glossy red enamel teapot. The cool grey-blue ground makes the red and amber glow. This everyday still life celebrates a familiar Turkish ritual. Signed and dated 2015.
  • Pink and white magnolia blossoms on branches in a clear glass of water against a speckled grey wall
    Hasan Saygin, magnolia branches in a glass of water.
    Branches of pink and white magnolia blossoms rise from a tall clear glass of water, petals curling open against a speckled grey wall. A soft shadow falls across the table. The transparent glass and delicate petals show Saygin's precise still life technique. Signed lower right.
  • Pink Japanese anemones and buds in a clear glass jug with a handle against a smooth grey background
    Hasan Saygin, pink anemones in a glass jug.
    Pink anemone flowers and round buds on slender stems rise from a clear glass jug with a curved handle. The smooth grey background and soft shadow put the focus on the transparent glass and fine petals. Signed lower right; date only partly legible.

He draws inspiration from Renaissance painters, particularly in his depictions of nudes and still lifes. At first glance, his paintings are highly realistic, as he seeks “perfection” in the depiction of his models and subjects. However, he also incorporates abstract elements that integrate his realism with modernity, creating a unique style known as “abstract realism”.

“At first glance, his paintings are very realistic and he looks for the ‘perfection’ in the minutes of its model or its subjects. But there are also some abstract elements that integrate its realism to the modernity.”

His work has been recognised with many awards, including the Médaille de la Ville de Paris in 1990 and the Gold Medal of Merit and French Dedication in 2003. In 1997, a book featuring his works was published by famous French art critics. He also works with pastels in addition to oil and acrylic.

He is one of the few Turkish painters known by important collectors in France, Spain, Belgium, Switzerland, and the USA. He is married and has two children, and continues to work from his home near Paris. His still lifes are described as meditative pieces, created in the solitude of his Norman studio.

Q: What defines Hasan Saygin’s artistic style?
A: His unique blend of classical realism and modern abstraction, which he calls “abstract realism”. He draws inspiration from Renaissance painters, particularly in his nudes and still lifes, and seeks perfection in his subjects while incorporating abstract elements that bring a contemporary edge to his work.

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