Time Magazine Cover: Mustafa Kemal Pasha

24 March 1923 issue of Time magazine featured the founder of the Republic of Türkiye, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, on its cover. This cover holds great importance as it reflects Atatürk’s growing influence in the Western world and the transformation taking place in Türkiye. Time magazine published Atatürk on its cover for the first time in this issue, drawing attention to his leadership qualities, military successes, and efforts at modernization.

24 March 1923 Time magazine cover (TIME Magazin Cover)

Background

Mustafa Kemal rose to prominence during the final years of the Ottoman Empire through his military achievements, particularly for his defense at the Çanakkale Front during the First World War. As a result of the National Struggle he launched in 1919, he succeeded in establishing an independent state under the leadership of the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye and became an internationally recognized leader during the process leading to the Treaty of Lausanne. The appearance of Mustafa Kemal on the cover of Time’s 24 March 1923 issue underscores his significance on the global stage and aims to introduce the revolutionary changes in Türkiye to Western public opinion.

The Story of the Cover

The cover features a black ink portrait of Mustafa Kemal. The portrait was prepared using video and photographic