Text, Folio 140 (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

Dominant colour

Text, Folio 140 (verso), from a Manuscript of the Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines (Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita-sutra) is a 14 unspecified by Unknown, held at Cleveland Museum of Art.

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

About this work

This is a long, narrow wooden block with three rectangular panels. Each panel is covered in tiny, evenly spaced holes arranged in rows. The wood looks worn, and there are small round marks near the edges of the middle and right panels. This isn’t a painting—it’s a printing block. The holes would have held ink to stamp text onto pages, like a giant stamp for books. It’s part of an old Buddhist scripture from Nepal. Check out The Cleveland Museum of Art to see it in person.