A painting from the Ajanta caves, India. These Buddhist cave temples, which date from 200 BC to the 7th century AD, were cut from solid granite, and are decorated with many such paintings.
Arts of the Indian subcontinent (present-day India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh). Indian art dates back to the ancient Indus Valley civilization, about 3000–1500 BC, centred on the cities of Harappa and Mohenjo Daro. Only resilient artefacts have survived from this era because of the Indian climate, but small soapstone seals, pottery, and terracotta figures reflect the influence of Mesopotamian art. Beginning about 1800 BC, the Aryan invasions gave rise to the Hindu religion and arts celebrating its gods, heroes, and scenes from the two great epics, the Mahābhārata and the Rāmāyana. From the 6th century BC, Buddhist art developed,… Click here to read more