Indian Sculpture c7.3

c7.3

Ancient Indian sculpture is not yet Indian plastic art to the full extent. It lacks some of the essential components, as well as some of the essential qualities, of classically Indian art. Plastic art of the Dekkhan, with its qualities of rock-cut sculpture, from Bhājā to Elephanta, appears basically and aboriginally Indian. Sculpture in the south has certain distinct features of its own (Drāviḍian). The northern half of the country, in parts and at certain phases is definitely distinguished by trends of its own. To disentangle the ethnical contributions in the single instances is impossible for the present; nor is this of primary importance, as the synthesis of the many factors in every province, and in each single work, constitutes the Indianness of the art of this country. What separates the provinces of Indian art is subsidiary to what they have in common. To our present knowledge the fabric of Indian art, thus established, becomes known by approximately 200 B.C. Art in India prior to that moment we call ancient; though it is ancestor of future unfoldment, and this not only historically but permanently, because of its survival and its potential readiness as the substratum of new formations.