Turkey, Şemsi Pasha Mosque, Üsküdar

Penelope Fleming’s Turkey, Şemsi Pasha Mosque, Üsküdar (1960) uses watercolor and marker to capture the harmonious relationship between the timeless architecture of the mosque and the fluid nature of the surrounding river, reflecting her ongoing exploration of how human-made structures coexist with the natural world.

Penelope Fleming’s Turkey, Şemsi Pasha Mosque, Üsküdar (1960), painted in watercolor and marker, beautifully captures the serene relationship between architecture and its natural surroundings. Fleming’s use of delicate watercolor washes and the defined strokes of marker bring out the interplay between the solid, timeless nature of the mosque and the fluid, ever-changing character of the water. This piece reflects Fleming’s deep appreciation for how human-made spaces coexist with the natural world, an ongoing theme in her work. Her careful attention to both the architectural details and the surrounding environment reflects her fascination with how structures are embedded in and influenced by the landscapes they inhabit, suggesting a harmony between the built and the natural.