Artwork

Text, Folio 2 (recto), from a Kalpa-sutra

Text, Folio 2 (recto), from a Kalpa-sutra, by Unknown, unspecified, 1488
Text, Folio 2 (recto), from a Kalpa-sutra, by Unknown, unspecified, 1488

Text, Folio 2 (recto), from a Kalpa-sutra is an unspecified painting by the Mughal Painting artist Unknown. It dates from 1488 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. Text, Folio 2 (recto) from a Kalpa‑sutra is a painted folio in which the entire surface is filled with script.

About this work

Overview

Text, Folio 2 (recto) from a Kalpa‑sutra is a painted folio in which the entire surface is filled with script. The work is executed in an unidentified medium, employing both red and black ink to render the densely packed text.

Subject & Meaning

The folio contains a passage from a Kalpa‑sutra, a type of Buddhist text dealing with monastic rules and rituals. The script is unknown to the viewer, emphasizing the work’s function as a devotional or instructional document rather than a pictorial scene.

Technique & Style

The calligraphy is executed in a flowing hand, each line carefully arranged to maximize the limited space of the folio. Contrasting red and black inks create visual depth, while the uniform density of the writing reflects the disciplined aesthetic typical of manuscript production in the Renaissance period.

Context

Produced during the Renaissance, the piece illustrates the era’s interest in combining textual scholarship with artistic presentation. Manuscript illumination and calligraphic precision were valued alongside the burgeoning visual arts, situating this folio within a broader tradition of scholarly artworks.

Artist & collection

Artist

Unknown

entity whose identity is not known

This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: Cleveland Museum of Art open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.