head of Buddha, unknown maker from Gandhara

This object may have originated in Hadda, the site of a large number of Buddhist sculptural and architectural remains located in modern-day Afghanistan. Under the Gupta dynasty (third century–543 CE), stucco sculptural production flourished at Hadda and other sites in the region, then called Gandhara. At Hadda, stucco and clay sculptures line the bases of many mound-shaped monuments called stupas. This delicately modeled head renders the features of a Buddha. The protrusion at the crown of the head (uṣṇīṣa) is one of the major physical signs of the Buddha and serves as an indication of wisdom and enlightenment. His heavy-lidded gaze and the enigmatic curve of his lips exude tranquility and reassurance. The wave-like texture of his hair echoes a centuries-old Gandharan style that appeared in the earliest figural depictions of the Buddha, while the softer, more rounded facial shape denotes Gupta-era aesthetics.