TOURING THE NATION: THE ROMANCE OF THE REPUBLIC (1938–1943)

The “Homeland Tours” project, carried out between 1938 and 1943, stands as one of the most significant initiatives of early Republican cultural policy and represents one of the first comprehensive efforts by the state to engage with society through art. Conducted in collaboration between the General Secretariat of the Republican People’s Party and the People’s Houses (Halkevleri), the project sent leading painters of the period to various cities across Anatolia. During these journeys, a total of 675 paintings were produced. These works were brought together in an exhibition held in 1944 at the Ankara Exhibition Hall (now the State Opera House). However, over time, a large portion of the collection was lost; the principal sources that have survived are the 1944 exhibition catalogue and a limited number of documents.

One of the most significant attempts to address this gap was the research and exhibition project initiated by the Millî Reasürans Art Gallery in 1998. As part of this initiative, an exhibition titled Touring the Nation: The Romance of the Republic (1938–1943) was held between November 4 and December 6, 1998, curated by Amelié Edgü. The exhibition brought together paintings produced during the Homeland Tours along with photographs from the period, and was accompanied by a panel addressing various aspects of the project. The initiative was realized as a tribute to the 75th anniversary of the Republic.

Research conducted during the exhibition preparations led to the rediscovery of works long thought lost, and 75 paintings were re-identified and reintroduced into art history. In parallel with the exhibition, a book published in October 1998 by Millî Reasürans T.A.Ş. became the first comprehensive study on the Homeland Tours since the 1944 exhibition catalogue. The project, curated by Amelié Edgü, was managed by Murat Ural. The publication includes texts by İlhan Berk, Levent Çalıkoğlu, Ferit Edgü, Turan Erol, and Murat Ural. The research was conducted by Levent Çalıkoğlu and Halenur Katipoğlu, while the book was designed by Esen Karol. Archival and collection research carried out within the scope of the project enabled the emergence of new findings on the Homeland Tours.