Japanese Bronze Kondo Shoshin - Mouse

This finely cast bronze of a mouse exemplifies the restrained naturalism and understated refinement characteristic of Kondō Shōshin (Masazane, 正眞). The animal is depicted crouching close to the ground, its compact body curled in on itself in a posture of alert stillness, its pointed snout slightly projected forward and its long tail extending backward in a measured, linear counterpoint. The composition, both understated and harmonious, transforms a humble creature into a sculptural study of balance, weight, and presence.

The modeling is controlled and subtle. Rather than relying on striking contrasts or exaggerated texture, Shōshin constructs the form with harmoniously modulated volumes that convey the mouse's physical mass with remarkable economy of means. Fine, lightly chiseled lines suggest the fur and anatomical structure without disrupting the continuity of the surface. The eye, rendered with clarity and focus, conveys an impression of quiet awareness, while the fine, delicately drawn ears introduce a note of vulnerability within this otherwise compact and serene form. The elongated, precisely chiseled tail reinforces the sculpture's naturalistic character while firmly anchoring it in space.

The surface is covered with a uniform, deliberately understated silver patina, devoid of chromatic variation. This homogeneous metallic tone emphasizes the form rather than the surface effect, allowing light to glide harmoniously over the rounded contours and revealing the sculptor's assured mastery of volume and proportion. The absence of tonal gradation draws attention to the purity of the silhouette and the precision of the casting, hallmarks of Shōshin's accomplished approach.

Kondō Shōshin was a student of Ōshima Jōun (1858–1940), a central figure in modern Japanese bronze sculpture and a fervent advocate of sculptural realism. Under Jōun's tutelage, Shōshin acquired a rigorous methodology based on careful observation of nature and strict technical requirements. Yet, his work is distinguished by a more understated and introspective sensibility, favoring a modest scale and moments of silent contemplation over ostentatious monumentality.

As an object, this bronze transcends mere animal representation. The mouse, an unassuming subject, is elevated by the clarity of its form and the simplicity of its sculpture into an object of meditative presence. Rejecting all narrative or symbolism, Shōshin presents the animal as it is, observed with respect and precision. The result is a work of refined simplicity and remarkable technical excellence, which will appeal to connoisseurs of modern Japanese bronzes, sensitive to the purity of forms, the rigor of the craftsmanship and the subtle poetry of everyday life rendered by the metal.