People have been urged to make use of drawings or pictures to express or explain texts and ideas better. Illustrations have been categorized according to various application techniques found in accordance with the purpose of application and historical and technological developments. It has been observed that narrations, explanations or descriptions taking place in texts have been used as subject matter in the art of painting all throughout the history of mankind. It has also been explored that in different periods of art history explanatory effects existed in the works of artists due to socio-political needs or artists own initiatives. These effects can be detected in Turkish painting as well as in the paintings of other countries of the world. It can be stated that illustrative effects can be observed in the works of many Turkish painters, as they are related with their choice of subject matter or their expose of cultural elements of the time. It is possible to say that such effects can be consistently observed in the works of Ibrahim Balaban. In this context, the study aims contribute to related literature by exploring and analysing in what form and character these effects take place in the works of the artist.

Key Words: Contemporary Turkish Painting, Ibrahim Balaban, Illustration