Bashi Bazouk on Ion Hills

Bashi-bazoukh means ‘irregular’ in Turkish language. Those irregular forces fought against occupier Greek army on Smyrna mountains. My plein air experiences on location have always recalled those times and those heroes. Therefore I designed the painting, making maquette and a lot of plein air studies, also mirror studies of my own in order to catch particular pose. Gerome and C. Bargue included my inspiration source who left a legacy as observers of particular time period. This painting a kind of homage to our unnamed and forgotten heroes.