Mahi Mahi

The mahi-mahi (Coryphaena hippurus), known for its vivid coloration and large, blunt dorsal fin extending the length of the body, presents particular challenges and rewards for the woodblock printmaker. Ohno Bakufu's rendering of this pelagic fish from his 'Dai Nihon Gyorui Gashu' series would require numerous color blocks to capture the fish's distinctive iridescent blues, greens, and yellows, colors that shift dramatically from life to death. The mahi-mahi's compressed, elongated body and distinctive forehead profile give it an immediately recognizable silhouette. Ohno likely presented the fish in lateral view against a plain ground, consistent with the natural history illustration conventions that informed the series, with bokashi gradations rendering the lustrous flanks.