Japan, Bronze, Horse, Morning On The Plateau, Naoki Tominaga 1913-2006

Japan, Bronze, Horse, Morning on the Plateau, Naoki Tominaga 1913-2006 This bronze horse, entitled Morning on the Plateau, is captured in a simple but lively movement: the head slightly turned, the neck stretched, one leg raised as if it were preparing to move forward. The surface is worked with a rough, almost nervous texture, which gives the light irregular catches, emphasizing the musculature and tension of the body. The modeling does not erase the traces of the artist's gesture, which reinforces the impression of a living animal, captured in a moment of calm before the action. This sculpture is the work of Naoki Tominaga (1913-2006), born Yoshio Tominaga in Nagasaki. His interest in sculpture began early, inspired by a statue he saw in the window of a kimono store. He studied sculpture at the Tokyo University of the Arts, where he was a student of Seibo Kitamura. As early as 1936, while still a student, he was selected for the Bunten exhibition, marking the beginning of a career rich in distinctions: Japan Academy of Arts Prize for Shinfu in 1972, President of the Nitten in 1979, decorated with the Order of the Sacred Treasure in 1983 and the Order of Culture in 1989. He also contributed to industrial design and art education, notably at the Kanazawa College of Art and Craft. The horse measures 26 cm high, 27 cm long and 12 cm wide. It rests on a simple base that accentuates the dynamics of its posture. The work is accompanied by its original wooden box, signed and calligraphed, proof of its authenticity. The whole exudes a quiet strength, where anatomical realism blends with the sensitivity of the artistic gesture. It is a sculpture that captures both the physical presence of the animal and the fleeting moment of a morning on the high plateaus.