Artwork
Text, Folio 101 (recto), from a Manuscript of the Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines (Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita-sutra)
Text, Folio 101 (recto), from a Manuscript of the Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines (Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita-sutra) is an unspecified painting by the Byzantine icon painting artist Unknown. It dates from 14 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
The object is a wooden block taken from a manuscript of the Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita‑sutra, the "Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines." Its surface is densely covered with minute carved dots arranged in regular rows, creating a patterned texture that resembles a grid of seeds or a tactile script.
Subject & Meaning
The block served as a component of a larger textual set, its purpose linked to the reproduction of Buddhist scripture. The systematic dot pattern functioned as a means of transferring the sutra’s text, reflecting the meticulous processes employed in the preservation and dissemination of religious teachings.
Technique & Style
Crafted from wood, the block features a series of uniformly spaced perforations, each created by fine carving tools. Two small circular holes near the edges suggest provisions for hanging or handling during the printing process. The regularity of the dot matrix indicates an early form of reproducible text, akin to primitive movable type.
History & Provenance
Originating from a manuscript tradition that circulated across Central and East Asia, the block exemplifies the material culture of Buddhist textual transmission. It is presently held by the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it is displayed as part of the museum’s collection of Asian printed media.
Context
During the period when the Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita‑sutra was widely copied, artisans developed various techniques to expedite the replication of extensive texts. This block illustrates one such method, bridging the gap between hand‑written manuscripts and later printing technologies.
Artist & collection
Domestic Scene
Giacomo and Cardinal Marco, investing Andrea, Abbot of San Zeno, with his Benefice
The Nymph of Fontainebleau
Portrait of a Woman
Madonna and Child with Saints in the Enclosed Garden
Venus and Minerva
Family Group of Four on Sofa
Wall painting from Room H of the Villa of P. Fannius Synistor at Boscoreale
Text, Folio 10 (recto), from a Manuscript of the Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines (Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita-sutra)
Text, Folio 123 (recto), from a Manuscript of the Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines (Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita-sutra)
Text, Folio 11 (recto), from a Manuscript of the Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines (Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita-sutra)
Text, Folio 12 (recto), from a Manuscript of the Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines (Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita-sutra)
Text, Folio 111 (recto), from a Manuscript of the Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines (Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita-sutra)
Text, Folio 112 (recto), from a Manuscript of the Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines (Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita-sutra)