Justify that the Harappans were skilled crafts people through one well-known piece of art
Answers
Answer:
Explanation:
The arts of Indus Valley civilisation, one of the earliest civilisations of the world, emerged during the second half of the third millennium (Bronze Age).
The forms of art found from various sites of civilisation include sculptures, seals, pottery, gold ornaments, terracotta figures, etc.
Their delineation of human and animal figures was highly realistic in nature.
Modelling of figures was done in an extremely careful manner.
Two major sites of Indus Valley civilization, along the river Indus are: North – cities of Harappa; South – Mohenjo-Daro.
The site showcase one of the earliest examples of civic planning.
Houses, markets, storage facilities, offices, etc. arranged in a grid-like pattern.
In this pattern, roads were cut across one another in 90-degree angle and the city was divided into blocks.
There was also a highly developed drainage system.
While Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro are situated in Pakistan, the important sites excavated in India are:
Lothal, Surkotada, Dholavira – Gujarat
Rakhigarh and Banwali – Haryana
Ropar – Punjab
Kalibangan and Balatha – Rajasthan
Materials used: Stone, Bronze, Terracotta, Clay etc.
The arts of Indus valley which are excavated yet are:
Stone Statues:
Stone statues found in Indus valley sites are excellent examples of handling the 3D volume.
Two major stone statues are:
Bearded Man (Priest Man, Priest-King)
Indus Valley Priest
Found in Mohenjo-Daro.
Bearded man’s figure made of Steatite.
The figure interpreted as a priest and is draped in a shawl coming under the right arm and covering the left shoulder.
The shawl is decorated with trefoil pattern.
The eyes are elongated and half closed as in a meditative concentration.
Nose is well formed and medium size.
Short cut moustache and a short beard and whiskers.
Hair is parted in the middle and a plain woven fillet is passed round the head.
An armlet on the right hand and holes around neck suggest necklace.
A slight touch of the Greek style of statues can be seen overall.
Male Torso
Found in Harappa (only major art element found in Harappa).
air is tied in the bun and bangles cover her left arm.
Cowry shell necklace is seen around her neck.
Her right hand is on her hip and her left hand is clasped in a traditional Indian dance gesture.
She has large eyes and flat nose.
Bull from Mohenjo-Daro
Bronze figure of the bull found in Mohenjo-Daro.
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.
There is a cord around the neck.
Terracotta:
Terracotta figures are more realistic in Gujarat sites and Kalibangan.
In terracotta, we find a few figurines of bearded males with coiled hairs, their posture rigidly upright, legs slightly apart, and the arms parallel to the sides of the body. The repetition of this figure in exactly the same position would suggest that he was a deity.
A terracotta mask of a horned deity has also been found.
Toy carts with wheels, whistles, rattles, bird and animals, gamesmen, and discs were also rendered in terracotta.
The most important terracotta figures are those represent Mother Goddess.
Mother Goddess
Mainly found in Mohenjo-Daro.
These figures are usually crude standing figures.
Adorned with necklaces hanging over the prominent breast and wearing a loin cloth and a grid.
The fan-shaped headdress with a cup like projection on each side is a distinct decorative feature of the mother goddess.
The pellet eyes and beaked nose of the figure are very crude (constructed in a rudimentary way).
Mouth is indicated by a narrow opening.
Seals:
Arts of Indus Valley
Thousands of seals were discovered from the sites, usually made of steatite, and occasionally of agate, chert, copper, faience and terracotta, with beautiful figures of animals such as unicorn bull, rhinoceros, tiger, elephant, bison, goat, buffalo, etc.
The purpose was mainly commercial.
They were also used as amulets, carried on the persons of their owners, perhaps as modern identity cards.
Standard Harappan seal was 2 x 2 square inches.
Every seal is engraved in a pictographic script which is yet to be deciphered.
Some seals were also been found in Gold and Ivory.
Seals of Pashupati Mahadeva
Found in Mohenjo-Daro.
The seal depicts a human figure seated cross legged.
An elephant and a tiger are depicted to the right side of the figure, while on the left a rhinoceros and a buffalo are seen.
Two antelopes (deer) are shown below the seat (nearby his feet).
The figure has a three horned head.