Text, Folio 118 (verso), 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

Dominant colour

Text, Folio 118 (verso), 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 carvings. The surface is packed with rows of uniform, angular text—no images, just sharp, repeating marks. The wood has a warm, aged tone, and two small metal pegs hold it together in the middle. The carvings look like they were made by hand, each line carefully cut into the wood. This kind of block was used to stamp text onto paper or fabric. Check out The Cleveland Museum of Art to see this piece in person.