The illustration, defined as a visual aid made to explain the texts contained within the book and to help the reader better understand the subject, is not only visual but also carries significance in terms of its societal dimension and communication aspects. This study attempts to evaluate how Nazan Erkmen, known as an illustration artist, was influenced by the socio-economic environment throughout her life as an artist and educator, and how she conveyed her inner world formed through the acquisitions she gained during her entire education process, starting from childhood, into illustrations. The artist, starting from childhood, became sensitive to nature, the environment, and culture, and made efforts to establish a visual bridge between the past and future concerning history, mythology, and cultural significance closely related to society. While creating her works with imagery designed without space or background, she developed her own style and utilized all the plastic and aesthetic values of miniature art, reflecting them in her contemporary practices. Due to her interest and inclination, she interpreted archaeological, religious, and mythological themes produced by Anatolia, Mesopotamia, and Turkish geography throughout historical processes, thus contributing to Turkish culture and art world. Topics such as Dede Korkut, Gilgamesh, Nasreddin Hodja, Gods, Female Deities, epics, and fairy tales, in short, all subjects closely related to individual imagination and the cultural memory of society, attracted her attention, and she visualized them by conducting in-depth research. These visuals were categorized and analyzed from a structural perspective. When her artist personality, educational background, and long-term leadership are evaluated, it is understood that she is one of the significant figures leaving a mark in this field.

Keywords: Nazan Erkmen, Illustration, Miniature, Dede Korkut, Gilgamesh