The valley of Sweet waters of Asia (Göksu Deresi)

Description

Featured in the 1836 collaborative work of Thomas Allom and Robert Walsh, this steel engraving depicts the promenade area of Göksu Deresi (Sweet Waters of Asia), one of the most famous socialization and recreation sites on the Anatolian side of Istanbul. While a monumental Ottoman public fountain, impressive with its elegant stonework and wide eaves, stands in the center; women taking a ride in a traditional 'koçu' carriage, families resting on carpets, street vendors, and playing children are illustrated around it. The artwork aesthetically visualizes the advanced water endowment architecture in the Ottoman capital and the vibrant, transparent outdoor (promenade) culture that brought all segments of society together with nature in a non-hierarchical manner.