AN EVALUATION OF TURKISH-OTTOMAN MINIATURES AS A TOOL FOR VISUALIZING INFORMATION

Dilek Erdoğan

Article Details

AN EVALUATION OF TURKISH-OTTOMAN MINIATURES AS A TOOL FOR VISUALIZING INFORMATION

Authors:

Dilek Erdoğan

Publisher:

Anadolu University

Main Topics:

Minyatür

Journal:

Sanat ve Tasarım Dergisi Issue 15- Özel sayı, pp.144-166

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

10/2025

Document Language:

Turkish

Document ID (Org No.):

2001360241

pISSN:

2146-9059

Keywords:

Abstract:

 Manuscripts, which held great importance throughout Ottoman history, gained visual and conceptual depth through miniatures as effective instruments of visual language. Miniature painting was not merely a form of art or tradition, but also a mode of expression that visualized the social structure, political events, and cultural values of its time by establishing interdisciplinary bridges and contributing to the construction of historical memory. In addition to their artistic and documentary value, miniatures played a significant role in Ottoman book arts by organizing and presenting visual information, and they exhibit structural characteristics that closely resemble those found in contemporary infographic design. This study addresses a gap in the literature by examining the relationship between Turkish-Ottoman miniature art and infographic representation, and evaluates the role of miniatures in the visualization and transmission of information. As a research method, the study employs visual document analysisa qualitative data collection techniqueand offers a descriptive evaluation. The scope of the study is limited to Turkish-Ottoman miniatures with a prominent function in information transfer, focusing particularly on works from the classical period, in which stylistic features are clearly defined. Based on definitions of infographics and relevant literature, five core categories were identified, and the findings reveal that Turkish-Ottoman miniatures contain a systematic and deliberate structure for visually conveying information, exhibiting substantial parallels with the foundational components of modern infographic design.

 Manuscripts, which held great importance throughout Ottoman history, gained visual and conceptual depth through miniatures as effective instruments of visual language. Miniature painting was not merely a form of art or tradition, but also a mode of expression that visualized the social structure, political events, and cultural values of its time by establishing interdisciplinary bridges and contributing to the construction of historical memory. In addition to their artistic and documentary value, miniatures played a significant role in Ottoman book arts by organizing and presenting visual information, and they exhibit structural characteristics that closely resemble those found in contemporary infographic design. This study addresses a gap in the literature by examining the relationship between Turkish-Ottoman miniature art and infographic representation, and evaluates the role of miniatures in the visualization and transmission of information. As a research method, the study employs visual document analysisa qualitative data collection techniqueand offers a descriptive evaluation. The scope of the study is limited to Turkish-Ottoman miniatures with a prominent function in information transfer, focusing particularly on works from the classical period, in which stylistic features are clearly defined. Based on definitions of infographics and relevant literature, five core categories were identified, and the findings reveal that Turkish-Ottoman miniatures contain a systematic and deliberate structure for visually conveying information, exhibiting substantial parallels with the foundational components of modern infographic design.

 Manuscripts, which held great importance throughout Ottoman history, gained visual and conceptual depth through miniatures as effective instruments of visual language. Miniature painting was not merely a form of art or tradition, but also a mode of expression that visualized the social structure, political events, and cultural values of its time by establishing interdisciplinary bridges and contributing to the construction of historical memory. In addition to their artistic and documentary value, miniatures played a significant role in Ottoman book arts by organizing and presenting visual information, and they exhibit structural characteristics that closely resemble those found in contemporary infographic design. This study addresses a gap in the literature by examining the relationship between Turkish-Ottoman miniature art and infographic representation, and evaluates the role of miniatures in the visualization and transmission of information. As a research method, the study employs visual document analysisa qualitative data collection techniqueand offers a descriptive evaluation. The scope of the study is limited to Turkish-Ottoman miniatures with a prominent function in information transfer, focusing particularly on works from the classical period, in which stylistic features are clearly defined. Based on definitions of infographics and relevant literature, five core categories were identified, and the findings reveal that Turkish-Ottoman miniatures contain a systematic and deliberate structure for visually conveying information, exhibiting substantial parallels with the foundational components of modern infographic design.

 Osmanlı tarihi boyunca oldukça önem verilen el yazmaları, görsel dilin etkin araçları olan minyatürlerle derinlik kazanmıştır. Minyatür sanatı, yalnızca bir sanat formu ya da gelenek değil, aynı zamanda dönemin toplumsal yapısını, siyasi olaylarını ve kültürel değerlerini disiplinler arası köprüler kurarak görselleştiren ve tarihî belleğin oluşmasına katkı sağlayan bir anlatım biçimidir. Sanatsal ve belgesel niteliğindeki değerlerinin yanı sıra minyatürler, Osmanlı kitap sanatında görsel bilginin düzenlenmesi ve sunumu açısından önemli bir yer tutmakta ve günümüz bilgigrafi tasarım anlayışına benzer yapısal özellikler barındırmaktadır. Bu çalışma, literatürde eksikliği görülen, Türk-Osmanlı minyatür sanatının bilgigrafiyle ilişkisini inceleyerek, minyatürlerin bilgi görselleştirme ve aktarımındaki rolünü değerlendirmektedir. Araştırmada yöntem olarak, nitel araştırma yöntemlerindeki veri toplama tekniği olan görsel doküman analiziyle betimleyici bir değerlendirme yapılmıştır. Çalışma, bilgi aktarımına odaklanan Türk-Osmanlı minyatürleriyle sınırlandırılmış ve üslup özelliklerinin en belirgin ve tutarlı şekilde gözlemlenebildiği dönem olması nedeniyle inceleme evreni klasik dönem eserleriyle sınırlandırılmıştır. Bilgigrafiye ilişkin tanımlar ve literatürdeki araştırmalar doğrultusunda, tarihsel ve çağdaş bilgigrafi yaklaşımları göz önünde bulundurularak beş temel kategori belirlenmiş ve Türk-Osmanlı minyatürlerinin bilginin görsel olarak aktarımında sistematik ve bilinçli bir yapı barındırdığı ve modern bilgigrafi tasarımının temel bileşenleriyle anlamlı benzerlikler taşıdığı tespit edilmiştir.

Article Details

AN EVALUATION OF TURKISH-OTTOMAN MINIATURES AS A TOOL FOR VISUALIZING INFORMATION

Authors:

Dilek Erdoğan

Publisher:

Anadolu University

Main Topics:

Minyatür

Journal:

Sanat ve Tasarım Dergisi Issue 15- Özel sayı, pp.144-166

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

10/2025

Document Language:

Turkish

Document ID (Org No.):

2001360241

pISSN:

2146-9059

Infographics

Turkish-Ottoman Miniature

Information Visualization

Graphic DesignBilgigrafi

Türk-Osmanlı Minyatürü

Bilgi Görselleştirme

Grafik Tasarım.

Issues

Article Details

Authors: Dilek Erdoğan

Publisher: Anadolu University

Main Topics: Minyatür

Journal: Sanat ve Tasarım Dergisi Issue 15- Özel sayı, pp.144-166

Document Type: Article

Publication Date: 10/2025

Document Language: Turkish

Document ID (Org No.): 2001360241

pISSN: 2146-9059

Issues

Authors:

Dilek Erdoğan

Publisher:

Anadolu University

Main Topics:

Minyatür

Journal:

Sanat ve Tasarım Dergisi Issue 15- Özel sayı, pp.144-166

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

10/2025

Document Language:

Turkish

Document ID (Org No.):

2001360241

pISSN:

2146-9059