Revisiting Halil Pasha's yaşlı halayık: a case of pseudostrabismus

Official URL: https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jemep.2026.101239

Background: Esotropia is a form of strabismus, a condition characterized by the misalignment of the eyes. The false appearance of esotropia in the alignment of the visual axes is what defines pseudoesotropia. Halil Pasha was a Turkish painter known for his contributions to the art scene during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Methodology: This study reevaluated the artistic depictions of strabismus in Halil Pasha's portraits of the same woman at different ages. “Yaşlı Halayık” is one of the most iconic paintings in Turkish art. Results: It is noticeable that the elderly maidservant may have a mild strabismus in her left eye. In our previous publication, this finding was interpreted as a possible pseudostrabismus due to age-related facial asymmetry. However, in the newly discovered portrait of the same woman at a younger age by the same painter, no ocular deviation was observed. Conclusions: Both art historians and medical practitioners should evaluate medical scenes in works of art. Today, physicians and medical students should examine such works more carefully in order to develop their observational skills. Paintings by the same artist can be evaluated together, taking into account the historical context in which they were created. Thorough museum research should be conducted for this purpose.