Text, Folio 138 (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 138 (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 panel covered in tiny, precise carvings. The carvings look like rows of text—lots of it—packed tightly in a grid. The wood has a warm, golden-brown color, and the carvings are a darker brown, almost black. The text is arranged in three sections, separated by small gaps. It’s hard to read, but it looks like sacred writing, maybe from an old book. If you’re curious about how this kind of carving was made, look up chiaroscuro—though this isn’t exactly that, it’s a good start to learn about how light and shadow play in carvings and prints.