Lost 1926 Atatürk Portrait: Theft Allegation at Ankara Prison

Turkish Artist Alleges Disappearance of Rare 1926 Atatürk Portrait

ISTANBUL — A prominent Turkish artist and academic has claimed that a rare 1926 portrait of modern Türkiye’s founder, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, has disappeared from an Ankara prison where it was once kept, raising serious concerns over a possible theft.

Artist Hasan Pekmezci recounted that in 1983–84, while working as a lecturer at a teacher training institute, he was invited by prison officials to review a collection of deteriorating photographs and images stored in a back room.

At the time, Türkiye was still under the military regime following the 1980 coup, and authorities were disposing of damaged or excess archival materials. While examining the storage area, Pekmezci noticed a torn, dust-covered canvas made of telis — a coarse linen commonly used by early Republican artists.

After rescuing it from materials slated for destruction, he realized the piece was a unique portrait of Atatürk, painted by renowned early Republican artist İbrahim Çallı.

Despite dirt and partial tearing, the painting had survived with little structural damage. Once cleaned, it revealed Çallı’s signature and an Ottoman Turkish inscription dated 1926.

According to Pekmezci, the composition was remarkable: a young, civilian-dressed Atatürk standing between two contrasting visions of Ankara — the war-scarred old city on one side, and the rapidly modernizing capital on the other, complete with scaffolding and construction workers.

"This wasn't a standard state portrait. It was a symbolic, almost visionary work showing the founder amidst the rebirth of the nation. Its loss is a blow to our cultural memory," stated an art historian familiar with the case.

However, when he first discovered the canvas, the prison prosecutor warned him: not to speak about it or take photographs , fearing that senior officials would immediately confiscate it. Pekmezci secretly photographed the artwork anyway and published an article about it in 1986 after finally obtaining permission.

Although he attempted several times to revisit the painting, authorities never allowed him to examine it again. Years later, a photography team documenting materials at the institution sent him images — the last known visual record of the canvas .

Recently, when Pekmezci inquired once more, prison staff claimed they had never seen the painting. He now believes the work may have been stolen and continues searching for its whereabouts.

Key Facts of the Case:

• Artist: İbrahim Çallı (1882–1960), a foundational figure in Turkish painting.
• Subject: Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, in civilian attire, circa 1926.
• Last Known Location: Storage room of an Ankara prison (name undisclosed).
• Current Status: Officially unaccounted for; alleged missing or stolen.

What Makes This Portrait Significant?

The portrait's value stems from three critical factors:

1. Historical Context: Painted just three years after the Republic's founding, capturing a pivotal moment of transformation.
2. Artistic Provenance: Created by Çallı, whose works are national treasures.
3. Unique Composition: Its dual depiction of old and new Ankara is unprecedented in known Atatürk iconography.

Pekmezci has formally notified the Ministry of Culture and initiated a public campaign to locate the artwork. The ministry has yet to issue an official statement regarding the investigation into the portrait's disappearance.