Bamboo

This print, another in Kotozuka's extensive bamboo series, likely captures the subject in a particular light condition — morning mist, afternoon shadow, or the flat grey light of an overcast day — that gives it a distinct atmospheric quality from related compositions. The Kyoto groves at Arashiyama were a frequent destination for printmakers and photographers drawn to the dramatic vertical density of the bamboo stands there. If inspired by Arashiyama, the composition may convey a sense of enclosure, with tall culms pressing in on either side and a narrow corridor of light at center. [Bokashi](/glossary/bokashi) gradations along the sides or top and bottom of the block would reinforce this tunnel-like spatial quality. The print is part of a body of work in which Kotozuka systematically examined a single motif from multiple viewpoints.