A.4. Sculpture
Indian sculpture has a rich and enduring tradition that spans from the Indus Valley Civilization (2500–1800 BCE), which produced small terra-cotta figurines. The Mauryan period (3rd century BCE) saw the creation of monumental stone pillars and intricately carved lions, marking the beginning of more sophisticated figurative sculpture. By the 2nd and 1st centuries BCE, Indian sculpture evolved into a mature form, and over the following centuries, a variety of regional styles flourished. By the 9th–10th centuries CE, Indian sculpture had reached a style that remains largely unchanged to this day. This style is characterized not by fullness or volume but by its graceful, slender figures, defined by their linear outline and supple limbs.