ARTS OF THE INDUS VALLEY
The arts of the Indus Valley Civilisation, dating back to the second half of the third millennium BCE, stand as a testament to the advanced cultural and artistic sensibilities of the period. The civilisation, primarily centred around the two major cities of Harappa in the north and Mohenjodaro in the south, left behind an array of artistic forms including sculptures, seals, pottery, jewellery, and terracotta figures. These artifacts provide valuable insights into their highly organised society and artistic craftsmanship.
The artists of the Indus Valley Civilisation were highly skilled at creating realistic representations of human and animal figures. Their attention to anatomical details sets them apart from other contemporaneous civilisations. In terracotta art, the modelling of animal figures was done with such precision and care that it reveals a deep understanding of form and proportion.
Besides art, the civilisation was also remarkable for its sophisticated urban planning. Harappa and Mohenjodaro, as well as other excavated sites like Lothal, Dholavira, Rakhigarhi, Ropar, and Kalibangan, exhibit advanced civic structures like houses, markets, storage facilities, and public baths, all organised in a grid-like pattern. A highly efficient drainage system further attests to their engineering capabilities.
The stone statues discovered in Harappan sites may be limited in number, but they are incredibly refined in execution. These sculptures are exemplary in how they handle three-dimensional forms. Notable among these is the bust of a bearded man, often interpreted as a priest, sculpted in soapstone.