Short answers, pulled from the story.
Artists began depicting the human form of Gautama Buddha in the first century CE. Before this time, early Buddhist communities used symbols like a wheel or footprints to represent him.
Images of Gautama Buddha feature elongated fingers and toes, an aquiline nose, elongated earlobes, and a head protuberance called the ushnisha. These attributes signify spiritual attainment rather than ordinary human limitations.
The Dharmachakra Buddha Mudra holds two hands against the chest with thumbs and forefingers united to represent teaching. This gesture appears on images showing the moment he preached his first sermon at Sarnath around 475 CE.
Gandhara and Mathura regions developed distinct styles for creating statues of Gautama Buddha during the first century CE. Gandhara art fused Indian religious themes with Ancient Greek aesthetic standards while Mathura retained more indigenous Indian styles.
Some depictions show Gautama Buddha as emaciated to recall years of ascetic practices before achieving enlightenment. The contrast between the emaciated figure and the well-proportioned statue highlights different stages of his journey toward Buddhahood.