Abdur Rahman Chughtai was born to an ancient Persian family gifted with many talented architects and artists, one of his ancestors, Ahmed Chughtai, was a reputed chief architect in the court of Mughal emperor Shah Jahan. Abdur Rahman got his education at the Mayo School of Art, Lahore from 1911 to 1913. A R Chughtai was also one of the most accomplished printmakers in the Indian subcontinent. His works are heavily inspired by the Persian and Mughal miniatures, portraying subjects of local folklores and legends. His subjects are not just limited to Persian narratives but widen their horizons to include Indian religious and mythological subjects. His several works were published as illustrations of the poetry by Mirza Galib. His line-and-wash technique particularly favoured poetic thought. He sought refuge in poetry because it was part of his people's life and culture. Today, a Chughtai’s original is a coveted treasure, found either in private collections or housed securely in museums.