Text, Folio 109 (recto), from a Manuscript of the Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines (Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita-sutra)

unspecified

From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art

Byzantine icon painting Classical Antiquity Religious

Dominant colour

Text, Folio 109 (recto), from a Manuscript of the Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines (Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita-sutra) is a 14 unspecified by Unknown, a Byzantine icon painting work, held at Cleveland Museum of Art.

Who painted this?: Unknown
When & what style?: 14 · Byzantine icon painting
Where can I see it?: Cleveland Museum of Art

About this work

This is a long, narrow wooden block covered in tiny, precise holes arranged in rows. The holes form neat patterns, like grids of text waiting to be printed. Two small metal rings are nailed near the ends—maybe for hanging or carrying. These blocks were used to print Buddhist scriptures in Nepal. The holes let ink pass through, creating printed text in reverse. Look up The Cleveland Museum of Art to see more objects like this.