Indian Sculpture
Cultural stonework in India, in the alternative form of cupule art, shows records back to the era of prehistoric artwork in the Lower Paleolithic (700,000 BCE). Around the time of the Bronze Age, sculpture was making its way up as the predominant method of artistic expression in the Indian subcontinent. Sculpture was traditionally used as a religious art to illustrate prominent figures or principles of Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism. A nude female was used to depict what the god's features appeared to be. Often times, they could be seen with multiple heads and arms. In Indian sculpture, figures were not seen as individuals, rather symbols of eternal values. Essentially, no one can say that Indian sculptors have honed in on 3D volume and fullness. The figures are designed on the basis of their outline, usually slender.
Origins of plastic art in India date back to the northwestern Indus valley civilization. This region was notable for its terracotta sculpture in small figurines and the pioneering of bronze sculpture in the Harappan Culture. Some prominent milestones in the history of sculpture include Buddhist "Pillars of Ashoka" and the figurative Greco-Buddhist sculpture of Hindu art schools.
In the next five years, a wide spectrum of sculptural idioms flourished in the areas of present-day Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh. By the time of the Khajuraho Temples in the 10th and 11th century known for erotic depictions, Indian sculpture had met its demise in creativity. From that point on, sculpture was used as a form of architecture with small figurines. Significant change was not seen up to the present from that point further. The art of Indian sculpture began in India during the Indus Valley civilization in parts of Afghanistan, Pakistan, and northwest India. Excavations done in this area have shown large quantities of terracotta sculpture and steatite seals. These sculptures featured images of female dancers, animals, deities and foliage. Indus Valley sculpture is renowned for its figurative bronze sculpture "The Dancing Girl of Mohenjo-Daro".
Dancing Girl of Mohenjo-Daro
(2500 BCE)
One of the Various "Pillars of Ashoka"
(3rd Century)
This innovative sculpture form easily made its way around the Indian subcontinent and parts of Asia. There is no doubt the creativity and beauty behind this very art. This art was present in many religious festivals, weddings, and any other major occasion. This art form also created a sense of respect for the amounts of deities and gods represented in the figures. With such deep roots, there is no wonder this art survived for millennia and continues to remain in the rich history of India.
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