An electrophotographic image forming apparatus, comprises an
electrophotographic photoreceptor; an image forming section for forming a
toner image on a surface of the electrophotographic photoreceptor; an
intermediate transfer member; a first transferring section for
transferring the toner image formed on the surface of the
electrophotographic photoreceptor to a surface of the intermediate
transfer member; and a second transferring section for transferring the
toner image transferred on the surface the intermediate transfer member
to a recording medium; wherein the electrophotographic photoreceptor
comprises a surface layer forming the surface thereof and containing
particles having a number average primary particle diameter of 1 to 300
nm and the surface of the electrophotographic photoreceptor has a
hardness of 200 to 350 N/mm.sup.2 in universal hardness which is lower
than the hardness in universal hardness of the surface of the
intermediate transfer member.