Arts of the Indus Valley Notes in English Class 11 Fine Art Chapter-2 Book-1

Art of Indus Valley Civilisation:

The Indus Valley Civilisation (c. 2500 BCE) featured advanced art forms like sculptures, seals, pottery, jewellery, and terracotta figures. These artworks displayed realistic human and animal forms with detailed anatomical features. Major sites like Harappa and Mohenjodaro (now in Pakistan) show early civic planning with grid-based cities, drainage, and public buildings. Important Indian sites include Lothal, Dholavira, Rakhigarhi, Ropar, and Kalibangan.

Stone Statues

Harappan statues in stone, bronze, and terracotta are few but finely crafted. Notable examples include a red sandstone torso and a soapstone bust of a bearded man, likely a priest. The priest figure wears a trefoil-patterned shawl, has elongated half-closed eyes, a well-formed nose, close-cut moustache, short beard, and double-shell-like ears. His hair is parted with a fillet around the head, and he wears an armlet and possibly a necklace, as suggested by neck holes.

Bronze Casting

Bronze-casting was widely practiced in the Indus Valley using the ‘lost wax’ technique. Harappans made detailed human and animal figures, the most famous being the bronze ‘Dancing Girl’. Notable animal figures include a buffalo, goat, dog (from Lothal), and a bull (from Kalibangan). Bronze casting was common across major sites like Harappa, Mohenjodaro, Lothal, and Kalibangan. This tradition continued into the Late Harappan and Chalcolithic periods, as seen in the metal sculptures from Daimabad in Maharashtra, highlighting a long-lasting legacy of figure sculpture.

Terracotta

Terracotta figures in the Indus Valley are simpler than stone or bronze ones, though more realistic examples are found at Gujarat sites and Kalibangan. The most notable terracotta figures include the mother goddess and rigid male figures, likely deities, with coiled hair and upright posture. A terracotta mask of a horned deity has also been found. Additionally, toy carts, whistles, rattles, birds, animals, gamesmen, and discs were commonly made in terracotta. 

Seals

Thousands of seals from the Indus Valley, mostly made of steatite and occasionally of other materials, depict animals like unicorn bulls, elephants, tigers, and rhinoceroses in realistic detail. These seals, often 2×2 inch square plaques, were likely used for trade and as personal amulets, similar to identity cards. All seals bear inscriptions in an undeciphered pictographic script. Some feature trees, human figures, or mythical motifs. The most famous is the Pashupati Seal, showing a seated figure surrounded by animals. Copper tablets with animal or human figures and inscriptions have also been found, likely serving as amulets.

Pottery

The Indus Valley pottery, mostly fine wheel-made ware, reveals the evolution of design and form. Plain red clay pottery is more common than painted types, often featuring knobs or slips. Painted ware includes black designs on red slip with geometric and animal motifs. Rare polychrome pottery shows red, black, and green patterns. Incised ware, also rare, has base decorations, while perforated pottery, likely used for straining, has holes throughout. Household pottery came in diverse shapes, mostly curved, and miniature vessels under half an inch highlight the potters' exceptional skill.

Beads and Ornaments

Harappan men and women adorned themselves with various ornaments made from gold, gemstones, bones, and clay. Common items included necklaces, armlets, rings, earrings, and anklets. Jewellery found at Mohenjodaro and Lothal shows fine craftsmanship using gold, copper, faience, and semi-precious stones. Bead-making was a major industry, especially at Chanhudaro and Lothal, using materials like carnelian, jasper, lapis lazuli, and terracotta in diverse shapes and styles. Naturalistic animal beads were also crafted. Spinning of cotton and wool was common, with spindle whorls found in many homes. People wore dhoti-like lower garments and shawls, followed fashion trends, used cosmetics like cinnabar and collyrium, and styled their hair and beards. Skilled in many crafts, they excelled in metal casting, stone carving, pottery, and terracotta art. Stone structures at Dholavira highlight their architectural knowledge.

DANCING GIRL

One of the most famous Indus Valley artefacts is the four-inch copper statue of a dancing girl from Mohenjodaro. She has long hair tied in a bun, wears numerous bangles on her left arm, a bracelet and amulet on her right, and a cowry shell necklace. Her right hand rests on her hip, while the left is posed in a dance gesture. With large eyes, a flat nose, and expressive body posture, the figure reflects grace, confidence, and artistic skill.

BULL

This bronze figure of a bull from Mohenjodaro deserves mention. The massiveness of the bull and the fury of the charge are eloquently expressed. The animal is shown standing with his head turned to the right and with a cord around the neck.

MALE TORSO

In this red sandstone figure, there are socket holes in the neck and shoulders for the attachment of head and arms. The frontal posture of the torso has been consciously adopted. The shoulders are well baked and the abdomen slightly prominent.

PAINTED EARTHEN JAR

This clay jar from Mohenjodaro was wheel-made and shaped skillfully by hand. After baking, it was painted black and finely polished. The decoration includes simple vegetal and geometric motifs, showing a clear move towards abstract design.

MOTHER GODDESS

The mother goddess figures of the Indus Valley are crude standing female forms, adorned with necklaces over prominent breasts and wearing a loincloth with a girdle. A unique feature is their fan-shaped headdress with cup-like projections on each side. The facial features are simple, with pellet eyes, a beaked nose, and a slit-like mouth.