The Art of Indus Valley Civilization
The Indus Valley civilization, emerged during the second half of the third millennium (Bronze Age) is one of the earliest civic establishments of the world. The communities of Harappa in north and Mohenjo-Daroin south are the two noteworthy destinations in Indus along the river Indus. The site grandstand one of the earliest examples of civic planning. Houses, markets, storerooms, workplaces, and so forth orchestrated in a grid like patterns. In this example, streets were cut crosswise over each other in 90-degree point and the city was separated into squares. A highly developed drainage system can also be found at Indus. While Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro are situated in Pakistan at present time, some important sites in India are:
· Lothal, Surkotada, Dholavira – Gujarat
· Rakhigarh and Banwali – Haryana
· Ropar – Punjab
· Kalibangan and Balatha – Rajasthan
The types of workmanship that found from different destinations from Indus valley incorporate sculptures, gold ornaments, seals, terracotta figures, pottery, and so on. Their depiction of human and animal figures was exceedingly realistic in nature. Modeling of figures was done in a great creative and careful manner. Materials which were utilized at Indus valley are: Stone, Bronze, Terracotta, Clay etc. Various forms of art have been discovered from Indus valley which are as following:
Bronze Casting
Bronze casting was practiced in wide scale in almost every single site of the Indus civilization. Mostly the technique of lost wax casting was utilized for Bronze Casting. Human and in addition the forms of animals were also discovered in the Bronze casting. Among animal figures the buffalo with uplifted head, and sweeping horns and the goat are imaginative artistic merits. Bronze figure of a bull from Kalibangan a bird from Lothal and a Copper dog demonstrates that Bronze casting was well known at all sites of Indus valley civilization. Metal casting proceeded even after the Indus valley development through late Harappan, Chalcolithic people, and so forth.
Suggested: Mesopotamian Art
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| Dancing girl Of Mohenjo -Daro |
Terracotta
Terracotta figures are more realistic in Gujarat locales and Kalibangan. a couple of statues of bearded men with coiled hairs, their posture unbendingly upright, legs marginally apart, and the arms parallel to the sides of the body were casted In terracotta. The repetition of this figure in the very same position would recommend that he was a deity. A terracotta veil of a horned divinity has likewise been found. Birds and animals, rattles, Toy carts with wheels whistles, and gamesmen, were additionally rendered in terracotta. The most essential terracotta figures are the representation of Mother Goddess.
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| Priest king |
Seals
A huge number of seals were found from Indus valley as well, normally made of steatite, and at times of agate, chert, copper, faience and earthenware, with wonderful figures of animals, for example, elephant, rhinoceros, tiger, wild ox, unicorn bull, buffalo, goat, and so on. The intention to make these seals was chiefly commercial. They were likewise utilized as special necklaces, carried on the people of their proprietors, maybe as current identity cards. Standard Harappan seal was 2 x 2 square inches. Each seal is engraved in a pictographic content which is yet to be deciphered. A few seals were likewise been found in Gold and Ivory.
Suggested: Indus Valley | Mohenjo-Daro | City Of Indus Valley:
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| Indus Valley seals with a Zebu Bull, Elephant, and Rhinooceros |
Pottery
Indus valley pottery comprises of fine wheel made products, only a few being handcrafted. Plain pottery is found more than the painted product. Plain ceramics is for the most part red clay, with or without a fine red or dim slip. The dark painted product has a fine covering of red slip on which geometric and animal designs are executed in reflexive glossy dark paint.
Ornaments, beads and Cosmetics
The Harappan people enlivened themselves with a substantial assortment of adornments created from each possible materials ranging from valuable metals and gemstones to bone and clay. White necklace, filets, armlets and finger rings were ordinarily worn by both genders. Gems found at Mohenjo-Daro and Lothal incorporate accessories of gold and semiprecious metal stones, copper wristbands and dabs, gold hoops and head ornaments. A graveyard has been found at Farmona in Harappa where dead bodies were covered with ornaments. At Chauhudaro and Lothal well-developed bead industries were present. Sculptures of animals, particularly monkeys and squirrels, utilized as stick head and beads. People wore two separate bits of clothing like dhoti and shawl. Shawl secured the left shoulder going beneath right arm. Various hair styles and beard were famous. Cinnabar was utilized as a restorative and cosmetic, lipstick and collyrium (eyeliner) were likewise known to them.