Arts of the Indus Valley

Yes, the people of the Indus Valley Civilisation can be called great art lovers.

Reasons:
- They produced a wide variety of art forms such as sculptures, seals, pottery, jewellery and terracotta figures.
- Their art shows fine artistic sensibility and vivid imagination.
- Human and animal figures were made highly realistic, with careful attention to anatomical details.
- They showed great skill in stone carving, bronze casting, pottery-making and terracotta modelling.
- Their seals, beads, ornaments and pottery were not only useful but also beautifully made and decorated.

So, the surviving art objects clearly show that art was an important part of their life.

There are both similarities and differences between present-day terracotta and Indus Valley terracotta.

Similarities:
- Terracotta is still made from clay.
- It is used for making figures, toys, pots and decorative items.
- Like in ancient times, terracotta is valued for its craftsmanship and usefulness.

Differences:
- Indus Valley terracotta human figures were generally crude, while present-day terracotta is often more refined and finished.
- Indus terracotta animals and figures were sometimes very simple and stylised, whereas modern terracotta may show greater variety, polish and detailing.
- The Indus Valley also used terracotta for toys, whistles, carts and deities, showing a strong link with daily and ritual life; today it is used more widely for decoration, utility and art.

Thus, the basic material remains the same, but the style and finish have changed over time.