Text, Folio 78 (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 78 (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 wooden block with three carved sections. Each section holds tiny, square characters arranged in neat rows. The wood looks worn, and the carving is precise but shallow. Two small metal pegs stick out near the ends. The characters are likely Buddhist scripture—this block was used to print text. The date stamped on it (1119) shows it’s very old. Look up The Cleveland Museum of Art to see more objects like this.