Artwork

Text, Folio 44 (verso), from a Manuscript of the Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines (Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita-sutra)

Text, Folio 44 (verso), 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 narrow wooden strip, approximately the length of a folio, perforated with a dense array of uniformly spaced holes arranged in orderly rows. The pattern of punctures forms the outline of text, though no actual characters are visible. Two small circular impressions near the top serve as markers separating sections of the strip.

Context

Designed as a printing matrix, the perforated strip allowed ink to pass through the holes onto paper, reproducing the sutra’s verses without the need for hand‑written copying. It was employed in the production of the Buddhist scripture known as the Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines (Ashtasahasrika Prajñāpāramitā‑sūtra), facilitating the dissemination of the text.

Technique & Style

Crafted from a single piece of wood, the strip was meticulously drilled to create a precise, regular grid of holes that corresponded to the layout of the sutra’s verses. The uniformity of the perforations reflects a systematic approach to mass‑producing religious texts, emphasizing functional accuracy over decorative embellishment.

History & Provenance

The strip is part of a larger manuscript of the Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines, now housed in a museum collection. Its exact origin, including the workshop or region of production, is not recorded, but it aligns with similar printing tools preserved in Asian art institutions.