[JAPAN - GAFU]. Album of prints, Meiji period. - Lot 184

[JAPAN - GAFU]. Album of prints, Meiji period. An interesting record of the teaching of drawing and the decorative arts in Japan during the Meiji era. Tokyo (Nihonbashi), Shuppan (?), circa 1885. In-12 format, Chinese-style binding with visible stitching, blue patterned paper cover, title label. Unpaginated (title on red paper, 19 leaves), numerous woodblock prints in black and pale pink. Some scuffing. Paper very slightly browned. A Japanese illustrated album of painting models depicting various subjects intended for use by artists: Buddhist figures (Kannon, Monju, Fugen), the Seven Gods of Good Fortune, Taoist and Confucian sages, animals, flowers, birds, children, and genre scenes. This type of work was widely used by artists of the Meiji era to copy or draw inspiration from Chinese and Japanese models. In excellent condition.