Hamit Gorele

Estate of the artist; thence by descent 
Acquired from the above by the present owner in 1998 

This work is in good condition. There is very light craquelure on lower right edge, lower centre and right. There is a very minor vertical stretcher mark only visible under inspection. The work had minor restoration, mostly on the top edges to reduce the creasing due to age. The colours in the catalogue illustration are accurate; however, the overall tonality is more subtle and the black in the background tends towards a dark grey-green in the actual work.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Painted in 1975.

Hamit Gorele was born in 1903 in a small town on the coast of the Black Sea in Turkey, which was then still the Ottoman Empire. Coming from a modest family, Gorele finished high school in a city close to his hometown and went to study engineering in 1922 at his father’s behest. But after two years, decided to focus on his true passion, enrolled at the Fine Arts Academy in Istanbul to study under the leading artists of the period. Gorele was then sent to Paris on a state scholarship to practice under Andre Lhote and later at the Academie Moderne. Gorele returned to Turkey in 1930s and started teaching art in schools from the small villages to the cities. He received numerous awards from the Turkish government and the Fine Arts Academy for his contribution to the Turkish arts. As a teacher, he continued to exhibit locally; however, having adopted in a style closer to Cubism under Lhote’s mentorship, on his return to Turkey, Gorele, for many years painted in a more traditional realistic style. The present work is a striking synthesis of the culmination of his studies in Cubism in late 1920s in Paris and his practice of building balanced compositions from his traditional paintings, carrying distinctive Bauhaus qualities.