This book with woodblock-printed reproductions based on paintings by Maruyama Ōkyo contains twenty-four spreads with images of a variety of topics, in addition to the foreword and the calligraphic motto, “Songs of the Brush, Dances of Ink” (hikka bokubu 筆歌墨舞). The pictures span motifs of the four seasons, such as the blossoming plum branch, four of the Seven Gods of Good Fortune (Ebisu, Hotei, Fukurokuju, and Jurōjin), and various subject matter that Ōkyo commonly painted, including turtles, cranes and young pine trees. Three of the images include imitations of Ōkyo’s signature and seal.
Though printed in 1850, the foreword dated 1833 suggests this book is a reprint of the original edition. The publisher, the well-established shop of Hishiya Magobē on Gokōmachi Street in central Kyoto, had also been responsible for the publication of many picture books of Yamaguchi Soken, one of Ōkyo's most loyal followers in the beginning of the 19th century. Ōkyo gafu would continue to be republished up to the end of the Meiji Period.
Credit: Purchase, Mary and James G. Wallach Foundation Gift, 2013