Text, Folio 14 (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 Religious

Dominant colour

Text, Folio 14 (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 with rows of tiny metal letters pressed into it. The letters form straight lines of text, all identical in size and spacing. Two small round holes are punched near the ends, like you’d see in old paper. The block looks like it’s meant to stamp text onto pages—each line is ready to be printed over and over. It’s from a very old Buddhist scripture, made in 1119. If you’re curious about how old books were printed before moveable type, check out The Cleveland Museum of Art.