Photography Museums in Turkiye on the 100th Anniversary of the Republic: Hamza Rüstem Photograph House and Museum

Abstract

Regardless of the field they focus on, museums provide tangible evidence of the technical and aesthetic development of human history. Through their chosen themes, visual object collections, and cognitive data, museums not only preserve the past but also facilitate connections with the present and envisioning the future. Invented in 1839, photography gained significant attention due to its power to rapidly record existing reality. The intersection of technology, chemistry, and physics led to the invention of the camera and image production, which continues to evolve today with its commercial success and artistic identity. Photography, an integral part of our social life, has created its own history since its invention. Therefore, collectors and museums consider it both a means of preservation and a central theme.
 The first photography museum in the world was established in 1947. In Turkiye, in 1997, Hilmi Nakipoğlu's personal initiative transformed his camera collection into the first museum. Throughout Turkiye, there are six museums dedicated to photography equipment and cameras: Nakipoğlu Camera Museum, Balıkesir National Photography Museum, Osman Yaşar Tanaçan Photography Museum, Mysia Photography Museum, Malatya Metropolitan Municipality Camera Museum, and Hamza Rüstem Photography House and Museum. Additionally, the Ara Güler Museum was established to commemorate the photographer Ara Güler.
 This article briefly discusses the concept of museums and examines photography museums in Turkiye, primarily focusing on the Hamza Rüstem Photography House and Museum. The Hamza Rüstem Photography House, which was established in 1925 and still operates in the same building, served as a school where the younger generation of photographers in Izmir received their training. In light of these characteristics, Hamza Rüstem, in commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the Republic, was discussed and portrayed through a conversation with his grandson, collector Mert Rüstem.