Illustration in Tuntunir Boi (book) by Upendrakishore Ray Chowdhury
Upendrakishore Ray Chowdhury (1863–1915) was a Bengali writer, illustrator, musician, printer and publisher. He helped shape Indian children’s literature and illustration. He started U. Ray & Sons. Brought new printing and reproduction methods to Bengal. His famous illustrated book is Tuntunir Boi (The Book of Tuntuni) first published in 1910.His drawings mix watching of nature with humour, simplicity and storytelling. The picture shown here comes from the story of Tuntuni and the mischievous cat. It shows Ray Chowdhury’s way of telling stories with images. He didn’t use colours. Instead he used black-and-white line drawings. He let body movement, position and facial expressions do the talking. In the picture the cat stands tall and alert. Its body shows curiosity and a hint of aggression. The birds look lively and nervous. The branches and leaves around them set the scene in nature. They also show how the characters fit into their world. The whole image is set inside a border. This helps guide the eye to the animals in the center. Dark and light areas are balanced well. This makes the figures clear and easy to see. Perfect for printing in a children’s book. The faces are expressive. The shapes are a little exaggerated. This adds fun and drama. The illustration doesn’t just look nice. It helps tell the story. With lines, strong characters and close attention, to how animals act Upendrakishore Ray Chowdhury turns a simple folk tale into a lively visual experience.
I interpret Upendrakishore Ray Chowdhury’s illustration as a lively combination of storytelling, humour, and careful observation of nature. Instead of using colour, he relies on black-and-white lines, body movements, and facial expressions to communicate the characters and their emotions.
The cat standing alert and upright appears curious and slightly threatening, while the birds seem nervous and energetic. Their exaggerated expressions and movements make the scene entertaining and suitable for children. The surrounding branches and leaves establish the natural setting while also helping connect the animals to their environment.
The border around the composition focuses attention on the central characters and makes the illustration well suited to reproduction in a printed children’s book. The careful balance of dark and light areas also ensures that the figures remain clear when printed.
Overall, I think the artwork shows how a simple folk tale can become visually engaging through expressive characters and thoughtful composition. Ray Chowdhury uses illustration not merely as decoration but as an essential part of storytelling, allowing the animals’ gestures, expressions, and interactions to communicate humour, tension, and movement.
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By: Devanshi Padariya
It reminds me of my primary school days. I know I get so much excited when new class starts and I buy new textbooks. First thing I used to see was illustrations of these textbooks.
This illustration tells a story of clever tailor bird who builds a nest in an eggplant bush. A naughty cat discovers the nest and wants to eat her three tiny chicks. Every day, the cat asks what she is doing. To protect her babies, the bird flatters the cat, bowing and calling her "Maharani" (Great Queen). Pleased, the cat leaves them alone. Once the chicks grow wings and fly safely to a palm tree, the bird mocks the cat. Enraged, the cat lunges but crashes into the sharp eggplant thorns, fleeing bruised and defeated by intelligence.
