The purpose of this article is to provide an academic analysis of the depictions of wrestling in Turkish painting, exploring its historical presence and cultural significance across various civilisations and time periods. It is asserted that wrestling has assumed significant social and cultural functions in Turkish culture and Turkish sports history, and has an important place in society. The ancient Turkish civilisations, which attached great importance to physical activities and sports, continued this tradition when they migrated to Anatolian lands. This tradition endured from the Seljuks to the Ottomans and continued until the establishment of the Republic of Turkey. In the context of broader social and cultural transformations, a close analysis of artistic works featuring wrestling motifs was conducted. These works, encompassing various movements and styles within the domain of Turkish painting, were examined in terms of both content and form. The study concluded that these artistic creations were intricately intertwined with sporting activities.
Keywords: Art-Sports Relationship, Sports in Turkish Culture, Ancestral Sport Wrestling, Turkish Painting Art, Kırkpınar Wrestling