---
title: Cemal Tollu
slug: cemal-tollu-6989c
url: /detay/cemal-tollu-6989c
type: biography
language: English
entity:
  primary: Cemal Tollu
  type: biography
  categories:
    - name: General Knowledge
      slug: genel-kultur
      url: /kategori/genel-kultur
    - name: Painting, Sculpture And Photography
      slug: resim-heykel-ve-fotografcilik
      url: /kategori/resim-heykel-ve-fotografcilik
  tags:
    - Cemal Tollu
    - painter
author: Yahya B. Keskin
created_at: 2025-12-08T08:17:20.327739+03:00
updated_at: 2025-12-08T08:17:20.327754+03:00
image: https://cdn.t3pedia.org/media/uploads/2025/06/04/akeWsG8tKwNIMJbby4FCjdPsuSeB1Iap.jpg
---

# Cemal Tollu

> Cemal Tollu was a Turkish painter who lived between 1899 and 1968.

<!-- CONTEXT: KURE Information Cards for "Cemal Tollu" -->

## KURE Information Cards

### KURE Information Card: Cemal Tollu

![12tollu.jpeg](https://cdn.t3pedia.org/media/uploads/2025/06/04/gTu6QuUsy73Oxlb15Iihbq9OVK0GSnMv.jpeg)

| Field | Value |
|-------|-------|
| Date of Birth | 1899 |
| Date of Death | 1968 |
| Babası | Mehmet Sait Bey |
| Annesi | Hayriyet Hanım |
| WORKS | Buğday Manzara,Manzara,Bursa’dan Manzara,Antalya’dan,Buğday,Manisalı Kız-1944,Bağ Bozumu,Gemili (landscape),Manzara,Pamuk Toplayanlar,Naturmort,Portre 1947,Atlar 1964,Kurban 1963,Manzara (from Antalya),Nü 1929,Manzara,Manzara (Gebze Beşiktaş Pier) |

<!-- CONTEXT: Article Content for "Cemal Tollu" -->

## Article Content

[Cemal Tollu](/en/detay/cemal-tollu-95685/llms.txt) began his art education in 1919 by enrolling at the [Sanâyi-i Nefîse Mektebi](/en/detay/sanayi-i-nefise-mektebi/llms.txt). During this period he worked in the studios of [Hikmet Onat](/en/detay/hikmet-onat-7207f/llms.txt) and [İbrahim Çallı](/en/detay/ibrahim-calli-751236/llms.txt). His education was interrupted due to his participation in the National Struggle, but upon returning to Istanbul in 1926 he resumed his studies at the same school. In 1928, with the support of his family, he went to Paris to continue his education internationally and began working in André Lhote’s studio. In 1931 he briefly traveled to Munich where he undertook analytical composition studies in Hans Hofmann’s studio. He continued his work in André Lhote’s studio until 1932 and also attended the studios of Fernand Léger, Louis Marcoussis and Charles Despiau, as well as the Académie Moderne. In his early period he was influenced by the forms of Marcel Gromaire, André Lhote’s geometric构图, and Hans Hofmann’s cubism.

##### **Career and Achievements**

Throughout his artistic career, Cemal Tollu held various positions at institutions:

- In 1927 he began teaching drawing at the Elazığ Male Teachers School.
- In 1931 he participated in the exhibition of the Independent Painters and Sculptors Union.
- From 1932 to 1935 he taught drawing at the Erzincan Military Secondary School.
- In 1933 he was among the founding members of the D Group and participated in all of its exhibitions.
- In 1935 he was appointed deputy director of the Ankara Archaeology Museum (Museum of Anatolian Civilizations).
- In 1937 he joined the Academy of Fine Arts as an assistant to Léopold Lévy, head of the Painting Department.
- In 1945 he opened his own studio at the school and held this position until his retirement in 1964.

##### **Notable Works and Contributions**

In addition to his artistic output, Cemal Tollu authored several written works. His first art writings were published in 1933 in the magazine Yeni Adam and continued in various newspapers and journals until 1956.

His book *Mitoloji* (1957) and the monograph **Şeker Ahmed Paşa** (1967) were published by the Academy of Fine Arts as textbooks. In his paintings, Cemal Tollu rendered Anatolian subjects and life through solid volumetric and geometric forms. He emphasized monumental compositional structure, the accuracy of value and proportion in color, and distilled details to create archaic, plastic forms.

![Image](https://cdn.t3pedia.org/media/uploads/2026/02/11/cemal-tollu-6989c-be%c5%9fikta%c5%9f%20gebze%20iskelesi%20kopya.jpg)

[Beşiktaş Gebze Pier](https://www.kulturportali.gov.tr/portal/cemal-tollu)

<!-- CONTEXT: Academic Sources and References for "Cemal Tollu" -->

## Academic Sources and References

1. Ankara Resim ve Heykel Müzesi. “Cemal Tollu (1899–1968).” T.C. Kültür ve Turizm Bakanlığı. Accessed June 4, 2025. https://arhm.ktb.gov.tr/artists/detail/2176/cemal-tollu-1899-1968
2. Culture Portal. "Cemal Tollu." Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Türkiye. Accessed June 4, 2025. https://www.kulturportali.gov.tr/portal/cemal-tollu.
3. Sabancı Müzesi. "Cemal Tollu." Accessed June 4, 2025. https://www.sakipsabancimuzesi.org/sanatci/293.