Text, Folio 41 (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 41 (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 holes arranged in neat rows. The holes look like they were punched by hand, forming a pattern of lines and dots across the surface. Two small circular holes near the center break up the grid. This isn’t a painting—it’s actually a stencil or template, likely used for writing or printing text. The holes would let ink or dye pass through onto paper or fabric underneath. If you’re curious about how this was used, look up chiaroscuro—though not exactly the same, it’s about controlling light and shadow in a precise way.