Untitled 

Fikret Mualla Saygi made this striking, untitled painting with oil on canvas. The thick application of paint is central to its aesthetic. The artist has engaged with the sensuous qualities of the oil to imbue the artwork with texture and form. Notice how the brushstrokes are visible, capturing not just the likenesses of the people in the scene but also the very act of painting itself. The artist is concerned with the ways in which the material embodies emotions, experiences, and the social contexts in which it was created. Oil paint's significance lies in its connection to broader histories of labor and politics. Historically, oil paint was a luxury, signifying wealth and status. Its accessibility has expanded with industrialization, yet its inherent connection to a capitalist system and questions of value remains. The visible labor in the brushstrokes, combined with the quick, expressive manner, elevates the material's importance, blurring the lines between fine art and craft. The value of the artwork is not only in its representation but also in the artist's engagement with the materiality of the paint.