HISTORY AND APPRECIATION OF ART (FROM 3000 BC TO 600 AD)
From IndusValley Civilization ( 2500 BC-1750BC ) to Mauryan dynasty (Third century B.C.), we see a gradual development in art and crafts. Artists of the Harappan period were extremely skilled. Mauryan period marked a new beginning in Indian history. Highly polished quality of the sculpted pillars from the Ashokan period are treasure of Indian art. Alongwith this technically improved style, there was also the tradition of popular folk art, which continued in the form of crude mother goddess figures. After the Mauryans , when the Sungas came to power, they continued with the artistic activity and we got the great Stupa and sculptures of Sanchi in the state of Madhya Pradesh . The Kushans , who had come from outside India, helped in the progress. During this period, we see the development of the sculpted portraiture for the first time. Gupta period is regarded as the golden period in Indian Art History. Refinement came in the representation of the human f...