Istanbul paintings by Traugott Fuchs

Traugott Fuchs, in protest against his dismissal by the Nazis and out of political convictions, followed his teacher Leo Spitzer into exile in Turkey, where he remained until the end of his life. In addition to his academic activities, Fuchs created a rich artistic and literary oeuvre throughout his life that testifies to how close he felt to the exile that became his home. This is a selection of drawings that Fuchs painted in Istanbul over the years.

Traugottt Fuchs, Türbe with cypresses, Istanbul, Directory B3_i_18 © Hermann Fuchs.

Traugott Fuchs, Minaret Near Rüstem Pasha, Istanbul, Listed D01_i6 © Hermann Fuchs.

Traugott Fuchs, Sea of Marmara and Kiskulesi, Istanbul, Listed D11_i_10 © Hermann Fuchs.

Traugott Fuchs, Bitter Fountain and Judas Tree at Robert College, Istanbul, Listed D14_I_20 © Hermann Fuchs.

Traugott Fuchs, Sailing ships, with burn marks, Corum images i-04 © Hermann Fuchs.

Traugott Fuchs, Self-portrait with cap, ca. 1980s, Istanbul © Hermann Fuchs.

Traugott Fuchs, Mosque, Istanbul, 1930s, Listed D 84b © Hermann Fuchs.

Traugott Fuchs, Self-portrait with death notice I. Bachmann, Istanbul, D16_p_25 © Hermann Fuchs.

Traugott Fuchs (1906-1997) had studied under the Romanist Leo Spitzer in Cologne. When Spitzer was dismissed after the Nazi seizure of power, Fuchs began a protest in solidarity out of political conviction, making himself a target. In 1934, Fuchs followed his teacher into exile in Istanbul. There he taught French, German, and German language and literary history at the School of Foreign Languages, the Faculty of Philosophy at the University of Istanbul, and at the American Robert College (from 1971 Boğaziçi University), among other places, and worked for Spitzer and later for the novelist Erich Auerbach. In addition to his academic activities, which lasted until 1978, Fuchs was unceasingly active artistically and as a writer. He wrote poems and elegies, translated Turkish literature into German, painted and drew. 11Cf. Dogramaci, Burcu, 2021: Traugott Fuchs. In: METROMOD Archive, https://archive.metromod.net/viewer.p/69/2949/object/5138-10832903, last modified: 14-09-2021 (08.11.2021).

Unlike many other German exiles, Fuchs chose to remain in Istanbul until his death. Even though he maintained intensive contacts with some of the exiled intellectuals and was involved in their networks, he did not limit himself to this social environment. He sought closeness to the Turkish population, learned Turkish, and dealt intensively with Turkish history, culture, and politics. His artistic and literary work is testimony to this engagement and to the close and warm view Fuchs had of his exile, which became his home. In portraits, landscape and city views, still lifes and everyday scenes, Fuchs’ view of Turkey unfolds over decades. In addition to Istanbul, he also depicted other cities and landscapes, including the small Anatolian town of Çorum, where he, like many other German exiles, was interned for 13 months beginning in 1944.

This is a selection of drawings that Fuchs painted in Istanbul over the years.

Footnotes

1Cf. Dogramaci, Burcu, 2021: Traugott Fuchs. In: METROMOD Archive, https://archive.metromod.net/viewer.p/69/2949/object/5138-10832903, last modified: 14-09-2021 (08.11.2021).

All pictures from the estate of Traugott Fuchs were made available by kind permission of Hermann Fuchs.