Text, Folio 9 (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 9 (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 block with three rows of tiny, carved text. The letters are deep and precise, arranged in neat columns. The wood has a worn, golden-brown color, and two small circular holes appear near the ends. The text looks like an old Buddhist scripture, carefully etched by hand. It’s meant to be printed, not just looked at—each block would press ink onto paper. If you’re curious about how this kind of printing works, look up chiaroscuro.