Important Points: Arts of the Indus Valley | Fine Art for Class 11 - Humanities/Arts PDF Download

1. Emergence and Sites:

• Arts of the Indus Valley Civilisation emerged during the second half of the third millennium BCE.
• Major sites: Harappa, Mohenjodaro (Pakistan), Lothal, Dholavira (Gujarat), Rakhigarhi (Haryana), Ropar (Punjab), Kalibangan (Rajasthan).

2. Stone Statues:

• Statues in stone, bronze, and terracotta.
• Example: Bust of a bearded man (interpreted as a priest) with detailed anatomical features.

3. Bronze Casting:

• Practised widely using the 'lost wax' technique.
• Example: Statue of a girl titled 'Dancing Girl', bronze buffalo, goat, copper dog, and bird.

4. Terracotta:

• Terracotta images were more realistic in Gujarat sites and Kalibangan.
• Common figures: Mother goddess, bearded males with coiled hair, toy carts, whistles, rattles, birds, and animals.

5. Seals:

• Made of steatite, agate, chert, copper, faience, and terracotta.
• Depicted animals like unicorn bull, rhinoceros, tiger, elephant, bison, goat, buffalo.
• Example: Pashupati Seal with a human figure and animals around.

6. Pottery:

• Mostly wheel-made, some hand-made.
• Types: Plain pottery, black painted ware, polychrome pottery, incised ware, perforated pottery.
• Shapes: Various for daily use, with miniature vessels being particularly well-crafted.

7. Beads and Ornaments:

• Made from precious metals, gemstones, bone, and baked clay.
• Beads in varying shapes, decorated by incising or painting.
• Ornaments included necklaces, fillets, armlets, finger-rings, earrings, anklets.

8. Cultural and Fashion Insights:

• Spinning of cotton and wool was common.
• Men and women wore attire similar to dhoti and shawl.
• Use of cosmetics like cinnabar, lipstick, collyrium.
• Hairstyles and beards were popular.

9. Artistic Skills:

• Skilled in metal casting, stone carving, pottery making, and terracotta image making.
• Used simplified motifs of animals, plants, and birds.

10. Significant Artifacts:

• Bronze bull, dancing girl, mother goddess figures, male torso, painted earthen jar.