Couple of Apsaras; China, possibly Han dynasty, 216 BC - 220 AD.

Couple of Apsaras; China, possibly Han dynasty, 216 BC - 220 AD.
Carved stone.
It presents faults.
Measurements: 38 x 57 x 19 cm (x2); 47 x 57 x 18 cm (with bases, x2).
Pair of Apsaras or dancers made in carved stone. In spite of the similarities, each of the protagonists has been carved independently, since while one holds a flute, the other holds a drum in her hands. Both have been carved with a special interest in capturing the movement that can be seen in the posture, in both cases half lying down and with their legs crossed. Despite this dynamism, the author maintains the restraint that can be seen in both cases in the softening of the features of the faces. The apsarás were aquatic nymphs of Hindu mythology. They were always represented around musical elements, as dancers in the court of the demigod Indra in his divine kingdom, Suarga, located on the peak of the sacred mountain Meru.
The Han dynasty ruled China between 206 B.C. and 220 A.D., more than four centuries during which the political, social and economic structures of China were consolidated, leading the country to the most glorious stage of its history. Regarding the art of this time, it is still eminently funerary, although it reflects the very high artistic level that will be reached both in the capitals and in the provinces. These preserved objects provide us with information on the daily life and customs of the time, since the art becomes much more mundane than the bronzes of the Zhou and Shang periods. The structures of the tombs also changed: the Shang tombs were vertical, while the Han tombs were built as subway palaces. They were decorated with reliefs stamped with scenes from the life of the deceased, and a new material was incorporated as an artistic support, lacquer.