Text, Folio 39 (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 39 (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 wooden block with rows of tiny carved letters. The letters are arranged in neat, repeating lines across three sections. Small circles mark the middle of each section, and there are numbers at the ends. This block was used to stamp text onto paper or fabric. The letters look like an early form of printing, but by hand-carving instead of metal type. Check out The Cleveland Museum of Art to see this up close.