Bamboo (left)

Titled 'Bamboo (left),' this print is almost certainly one panel of a [diptych](/glossary/diptych) or polyptych in which the bamboo composition extends across two or more sheets. The designation indicates that the image continues to the right on a companion panel. Diptych and [triptych](/glossary/triptych) formats allowed Kotozuka to compose panoramic or deeply immersive scenes that exceeded the available sheet width, a format well suited to the dense, lateral spread of a bamboo grove. The left panel would anchor the composition with the leftmost stalks and foliage, establishing the palette and mood that the companion panel extends. Alignment across sheets required precise registration marks and consistent inking across the print run, demanding close coordination between carver, printer, and the artist. Together with its companion, the print would present one of Kotozuka's most ambitious bamboo compositions.