Artwork
Text, Folio 79 (recto), from a Manuscript of the Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines (Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita-sutra)
Text, Folio 79 (recto), from a Manuscript of the Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines (Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita-sutra) is an unspecified painting by Unknown. It dates from 14 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. This wooden printing block, Folio 79 (recto), originates from a manuscript of the Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita-sutra, a key Buddhist text.
About this work
Overview
This wooden printing block, Folio 79 (recto), originates from a manuscript of the Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita-sutra, a key Buddhist text. The block features three shallow grooves, each lined with tightly packed, tiny metal letters, arranged in long, densely formatted lines.
Subject & Meaning
The block is part of a larger set used to print the Prajnaparamita-sutra, a foundational Buddhist scripture focused on the perfection of wisdom. Its purpose was to facilitate mass production of this important religious text for dissemination.
Technique & Style
Crafted from wood with two small holes (likely for handling or alignment), the block showcases miniature metal typography. Despite visible wear, the metal edges remain sharp, testament to their durability and the block’s repeated use.
History & Provenance
While specific historical ownership details are not provided, the block’s design and purpose align with traditional Buddhist manuscript printing practices, suggesting origins within a Buddhist scriptorial or monastic context.
Context
Comparable examples can be found in collections like The Cleveland Museum of Art, highlighting the block’s place within a broader tradition of Buddhist textual reproduction across Asia.
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 79 (verso), from a Manuscript of the Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines (Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita-sutra)
Text, Folio 135 (recto), from a Manuscript of the Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines (Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita-sutra)
Text, Folio 109 (recto), from a Manuscript of the Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines (Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita-sutra)
Text, folio 172 (recto), from a Manuscript of the Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines (Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita-sutra)
Text, Folio 94 (recto), from a Manuscript of the Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines (Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita-sutra)
Text, Folio 80 (recto), from a Manuscript of the Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines (Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita-sutra)