(b) "The Harappans were not an artistic people." Comment.

The notion that Harappans lacked artistic inclination is largely refuted by the wealth of archaeological discoveries that reveal a sophisticated understanding of various art forms and materials. Their artistic output, though often functional, demonstrates a distinct aesthetic and technical proficiency.

Evidence of Harappan Artistic Sensibilities

• Stone Sculptures: Although rare, the few stone sculptures found exhibit remarkable skill.
  • Priest-King (Mohenjo-daro): This bust, carved from steatite, shows a bearded man draped in a shawl with trefoil patterns. The eyes are elongated and half-closed, suggesting a meditative state, and the facial features are finely detailed.
  • Male Torso (Harappa): A red sandstone torso, known for its realistic anatomical details, hints at an advanced understanding of human form and perhaps a precursor to later Indian sculptural traditions.
• Bronze Casting: Harappans mastered the 'lost-wax' (cire perdue) technique for bronze casting.
  • Dancing Girl (Mohenjo-daro): This iconic bronze figurine, approximately 4 inches tall, captures a youthful female dancer in a confident posture, adorned with bangles. Its dynamic pose and anatomical precision reflect exceptional artistic and metallurgical skills.
  • Bronze Animals: Figures of buffaloes, goats, and chariots in bronze further demonstrate their expertise.
• Terracotta Figurines: These are more numerous and represent a popular art form, often depicting deities, humans, and animals.
  • Mother Goddess: Numerous hand-modeled female figurines, often heavily adorned with jewelry, are believed to represent fertility deities.
  • Animal Figures: Realistic terracotta figures of bulls, monkeys, dogs, and birds, along with toy carts and whistles, indicate a playful and observant artistic streak. Terracotta masks have also been found.
• Seals: Harappan seals are perhaps the most distinctive artistic artifacts.
  • Intricate Carvings: Made primarily from steatite, these seals feature a wide range of animals (unicorn, humped bull, elephant, tiger, rhinoceros), deities (Pashupati seal), and symbolic motifs, often accompanied by the undeciphered Harappan script. The precision and detail on these small objects are remarkable.
  • Commercial and Religious Significance: While used for trade and identification, their artistic designs also conveyed religious and cultural beliefs.
• Pottery: Harappan pottery, both plain and painted, showcases aesthetic value.
  • Red and Black Pottery: Characterized by geometric patterns, floral designs, and animal motifs, this pottery demonstrates a sophisticated sense of design and execution.
  • Mass Production with Aesthetic Appeal: Despite evidence of mass production (e.g., use of the potter's wheel), many pots were decorated with boldness and delicacy.
• Jewellery and Bead Making: Harappans were adept at crafting exquisite ornaments.
  • Materials: They used gold, silver, copper, carnelian, agate, lapis lazuli, steatite, shell, and faience.
  • Variety: Necklaces, bracelets, rings, earrings, pendants, and bangles were common. The long barrel cylinder beads made from carnelian were particularly valued and even found their way to Mesopotamia.
  • Technical Skill: The manufacturing of these beads, often involving drilling and etching, required great technical skill.

Arguments for a Utilitarian Aesthetic

While the artistic achievements are undeniable, it's also true that Harappan art often served functional or religious purposes rather than purely aesthetic ones. The monumental architecture, for instance, prioritized utility and precise engineering over elaborate decorative elements seen in other contemporary civilizations.

• Standardization: The uniformity in brick size, town planning, and even some artistic motifs suggests a practical and organized society where standardization might have taken precedence.
• Lack of Grand Art Forms: Unlike Egypt with its pyramids and elaborate temple carvings, or Mesopotamia with its ziggurats and relief sculptures, Harappan sites have not yielded large-scale monumental art.
• Focus on Crafts: Much of what we consider "art" in the Harappan context falls under sophisticated craftsmanship (e.g., bead-making, seal-carving, metalware) which had practical applications in daily life, trade, and ritual.

However, the existence of objects like the 'Dancing Girl' or the 'Priest-King' demonstrates that pure artistic expression was also valued, even if on a smaller scale. The meticulous anatomical details in sculptures and the intricate designs on seals and pottery suggest a society that appreciated beauty and skill.