Indian Art: A History of Indian Art from the Earliest Times up to the Third Century A.D. c6.35

c6.35

2nd Series: Paintings in grey or cream, crude but naturalisitic, also divided into early and late, the early second series being very crude have only the rudiments of naturalism. The figures have elongated necks, wavy hair, generally featureless heads, thin sinuous legs and fringed skirts. In the late second series some kind of grouping begins to appear and bows and arrows which were scarce in the first series now become common. [Fig. 3]. Metallic arrow-heads which began to be used by figurines of the first series still continued in the second and to that metallic spear-heads were now added as of common use. The people were hunters, hunting wild beasts, sometimes a tiger, a huge porcupine, sambhar both male and female and even elephant and oxen. Sometimes the hunting folk enjoyed a thrilling dance holding bows and arrows and using animal masks. Honey-taking with a bamboo ladder from high trees or overhanging cliffs was a favourite pursuit of the hunters of the second series which continued throughout the following third series also. [Fig. 4]. The rock paintings in Mirzapur area coincide with the hunting and dancing figures of the second series of the Mahadeo Hills.