Arts of the Indus ValleyClass 11 Fine Arts NCERT Solutions
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Q1Exercise
Would you agree that the people of the Indus Valley Civilisation were great art lovers? Give reasons for your answer.
Solution
Yes, it is evident from the archaeological findings that the people of the Indus Valley Civilisation were great art lovers. The sheer variety and quality of the art objects discovered support this conclusion.
Reasons:
- Variety of Art Forms: A wide range of artistic creations have been found, including sculptures in stone, bronze, and terracotta, as well as seals, pottery, jewellery, and terracotta figures. This diversity indicates that art was an integral part of their culture.
- High Artistic Skill: The artists of the civilisation possessed fine artistic sensibilities and a vivid imagination. This is reflected in the refined quality of their work. For instance, the bronze 'Dancing Girl' statue is an exquisite example of metal casting, full of expression and bodily vigour.
- Realistic Depictions: Their portrayal of human and animal figures was highly realistic. The stone statuaries, such as the red sandstone male torso and the soapstone bust of a bearded man, are excellent examples of handling three-dimensional volumes with unique anatomical details.
- Advanced Techniques: They were masters of various crafts. They practised the 'lost wax' technique for bronze casting, a sophisticated method that is still in use today. Their skill in making beads, ornaments, and finely crafted pottery also demonstrates their advanced artistic and technical abilities.
- Aesthetic Sense in Daily Objects: Even utilitarian objects like pottery and seals were aesthetically pleasing. Pottery was often decorated with geometric and animal designs, and seals were engraved with beautiful and realistic figures of animals like the unicorn bull, rhinoceros, and elephant.
These factors collectively suggest a society that not only practiced art but also had a deep appreciation for it.
Q2Exercise
What kind of similarities and differences do you find between present-day terracotta and the Indus Valley terracotta?
Solution
Based on the information provided about Indus Valley terracotta, we can identify several similarities and differences with present-day terracotta.
Similarities:
- Material and Purpose: Both ancient and modern terracotta are made from baked clay. Terracotta continues to be used for making utilitarian objects like pots and decorative items, as well as figurines and toys, much like the toy carts, whistles, and animal figures of the Indus Valley.
- Hand-Modelling: The crude, hand-modelled nature described for some Indus Valley human figures, particularly the mother goddess, is a technique still employed by traditional artisans today for creating rustic and folk art pieces.
Differences:
- Refinement and Technique: While the text describes the terracotta representations of human forms in the Indus Valley as generally 'crude', modern terracotta art can achieve very high levels of refinement and realism, thanks to advanced tools, kilns, and firing techniques. Modern artists have a wider range of glazes and paints available for decoration.
- Subject Matter: The subject matter of Indus terracotta was specific to their culture, featuring prominent mother goddess figures and representations of a deity with coiled hair. While modern terracotta includes human and animal figures, the specific religious and cultural iconography of the Indus Valley is unique to that period.
- Realism: The text notes that Indus terracotta human figures were crude, with features like pellet eyes and beaked noses. In contrast, modern terracotta artists can create highly realistic and detailed human sculptures. The text does mention that Indus terracotta was more realistic in Gujarat sites and Kalibangan, but the general comparison holds.
Q3Exercise
Seals were made of different materials. With the Indus Valley seals as a reference try to make seals with a different medium. Which are the animals that you would like to carve on your seals and why?
Solution
This is a creative activity based on the reference of Indus Valley seals.
Reference from Indus Valley Seals:
- Materials: Steatite, agate, chert, copper, faience, and terracotta.
- Shape: Standard seal was a square plaque (2x2 square inches).
- Content: Engraved with figures of animals (unicorn bull, rhinoceros, tiger, elephant, bison, goat, buffalo), human figures (Pashupati seal), and a pictographic script.
- Purpose: Mainly commercial, but also used as amulets or identity cards.
Making a Seal with a Different Medium:
- Medium: A modern and easily accessible medium would be polymer clay or even a simple potato carving. Polymer clay can be baked to harden, mimicking the process of making terracotta seals. It allows for fine details to be carved before baking.
Choice of Animals and Justification:
Following the tradition of the Indus Valley seals which depicted animals that were significant to their environment and culture, I would choose animals that are symbolic in the modern Indian context.
- The Lion: I would carve the Lion, specifically the Asiatic lion. It is a symbol of strength, courage, and majesty. As it is the national emblem of India (the Lion Capital of Ashoka), it represents the nation's identity and heritage, much like the seals may have represented an identity in the Indus Valley.
- The Peacock: The peacock is India's national bird and is celebrated for its beauty and grace. Carving a peacock would be an ode to the natural beauty of the country and its aesthetic traditions. It represents pride and integrity.
- The Bengal Tiger: This animal, like the tiger on Harappan seals, is a powerful symbol of the subcontinent's wildlife. It represents power, agility, and is a key figure in conservation efforts today. Its inclusion would highlight the importance of environmental consciousness, a modern concern.
Q4Exercise
What do the art objects that have survived tell us about the daily life of the people of the Indus Valley Civilisation?
Solution
The surviving art objects of the Indus Valley Civilisation provide significant insights into the daily life of its people.
- Social and Economic Life: The thousands of seals discovered suggest a bustling commercial life. These seals, used for trade, indicate a well-developed system of commerce and ownership. The presence of a pictographic script on them points towards a literate society, although the script remains undeciphered.
- Fashion and Personal Adornment: The discovery of a large variety of ornaments, such as necklaces, armlets, finger-rings, girdles, and earrings, shows that both men and women were conscious of fashion. The use of diverse materials from precious metals to baked clay suggests social stratification. Finds like cinnabar, face-paint, lipstick, and collyrium (eyeliner) indicate the use of cosmetics. The 'Dancing Girl' statue shows a specific hairstyle (a bun) and the wearing of bangles.
- Clothing and Industry: The recovery of numerous spindles and spindle whorls indicates that spinning of cotton and wool was a common activity. This suggests the production of textiles for clothing, which consisted of two pieces of attire similar to a dhoti and a shawl.
- Beliefs and Religion: Terracotta figurines, especially those of the 'mother goddess', suggest the prevalence of goddess worship. The 'Pashupati Seal', depicting a seated figure surrounded by animals, is interpreted as a deity, pointing to their religious beliefs. The bust of the 'bearded priest' with half-closed eyes suggests practices of meditation or religious rituals.
- Recreation and Leisure: The presence of terracotta toys, including carts with wheels, whistles, rattles, birds, animals, and gamesmen, indicates that children played with toys and that the people engaged in games for leisure.
- Household Activities: The large quantity of pottery in various shapes and sizes suggests its extensive use for daily household purposes like cooking, storing grains, and serving food. The discovery of perforated pottery indicates it was likely used for straining beverages.
Q5Exercise
Imagine you are a curator working in a museum and you have been given the task to create a museum exhibit on Indus art. Collect illustrations of at least ten objects made of stone, metal and terracotta produced and used during the Indus Valley Civilisation and create this exhibit.
Solution
As a curator, I would create an exhibit titled "Echoes of the Indus: Art and Life in an Ancient Civilisation". The exhibit would be structured into three sections based on the material: Stone, Metal, and Terracotta.
Exhibit Layout: The gallery would be dimly lit with spotlights on each artifact. Beside each object, there would be a descriptive panel with its name, origin (e.g., Mohenjodaro), material, approximate date, and a brief on its significance.
List of Ten Objects for the Exhibit:
Section 1: The Mastery of Stone
- Bust of the Bearded Priest: (Soapstone) - The centerpiece, highlighting religious or political authority. The description would focus on the trefoil pattern on the shawl, the meditative expression, and details of the beard and fillet.
- Male Torso: (Red Sandstone) - Showcased to demonstrate the artists' command over human anatomy and the sophisticated handling of three-dimensional form. The socket holes for attaching limbs would be noted.
- Steatite Seals: (Steatite) - A collection of 3-4 seals, including the famous 'Pashupati Seal' and a 'Unicorn Seal'. The display would explain their use in trade and as amulets, and the mystery of the undeciphered script.
Section 2: The Brilliance of Bronze
4. The Dancing Girl: (Bronze) - A star attraction, representing the pinnacle of metal casting. The panel would describe the 'lost wax' technique, the figure's confident posture, and the details of her bangles and hairstyle.
5. Bronze Bull from Mohenjodaro: (Bronze) - This figure would be used to illustrate the realistic depiction of animals, emphasizing its massiveness and the fury in its charge.
6. Bronze Bull from Kalibangan: (Bronze) - To show the geographical spread of artistic traditions and the high quality of art across different Indus sites.
7. Copper Dog from Lothal: (Copper) - An example of metalwork from another major site, showcasing the variety of animals depicted.
Section 3: The Earthiness of Terracotta
8. The Mother Goddess: (Terracotta) - A prominent display to discuss religious beliefs, focusing on the distinct fan-shaped headdress, crude features, and its likely significance as a symbol of fertility.
9. Terracotta Toy Cart: (Terracotta) - To give visitors a glimpse into the daily life and recreation of the Indus people, especially children.
10. Painted Earthen Jar: (Pottery/Terracotta) - An example of fine wheel-made pottery, with its description focusing on the geometric and vegetal motifs, the red and black polished slip, and the skill of the potter in achieving graceful curves.
This collection would provide a comprehensive overview of the artistic achievements of the Indus Valley Civilisation, connecting their art to their daily life, beliefs, and technological prowess.