old_contents: import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
  
  
  def grid_axes_labels(f, xlabel=None, ylabel=None, **kws):
  
      axes = f.axes
  
      plt.setp(axes.flat, xlabel="", ylabel="")
  
      if xlabel is not None:
          for ax in axes[-1]:
              ax.set_xlabel(xlabel, **kws)
  
      if ylabel is not None:
          for ax in axes[0]:
              ax.set_ylabel(ylabel, **kws)
  
new_contents: import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
  
  
  def grid_axes_labels(axes, xlabel=None, ylabel=None, **kws):
  
      plt.setp(axes.flat, xlabel="", ylabel="")
  
      if xlabel is not None:
          for ax in axes[-1]:
              ax.set_xlabel(xlabel, **kws)
  
      if ylabel is not None:
          for ax in axes[0]:
              ax.set_ylabel(ylabel, **kws)
  
subject: Use matrix of axes not figure