The Relationship between Anatomy and Physiognomy Books and the Expression of Physical Structure in Edo Period Painting : An Introduction to the Figure Painting Research of Maruyama Okyo (1733-1795) (No. 550 Commemoration Issue)

第五百五十號記念特集號In this short essay, rather than considering as a subject the many depictions of physical structure seen in anatomy and physiognomy books, the kind of influence that these books exerted on the expression of the figure in painting will be considered. A primary question concerns why these anatomy and physiognomy books are related to the study of figure painting. The answer can be found in Okyo's own words that one should consult anatomy and physiognomy books to understand skeletal structure and form. Furthermore, Okyo posited that when one paints, this kind of study will provide an important reference. Keeping Okyo's personal statements in mind, the following points can be considered. First, what were anatomy and physiognomy books? What stage of development had these books reached in the middle of the Edo Period? Moreover, what facets of these books had influenced painting especially the depiction of the physical structure? With these questions as a focus, the background of Okyo's figure painting, which completed the reform of the expression of the figure, is investigated herein. As a result of this study, it can be stated that the underlying foundation of the figure painting of Okyo is a knowledge of the human anatomy; a final polish, subtle in nuance, was provided by his knowledge of physiognomy. These disciplines formed the two pillars beneath the creation of Okyo's figure style. Through these means, Okyo gained a firm grasp of the human structure, and synthesized it into a consolidated approach to the art of figure painting