Artwork

Text, Folio 83 (verso), from a Manuscript of the Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines (Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita-sutra)

Text, Folio 83 (verso), from a Manuscript of the Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines (Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita-sutra), by Unknown, unspecified, 14
Text, Folio 83 (verso), from a Manuscript of the Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines (Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita-sutra), by Unknown, unspecified, 14

Text, Folio 83 (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

A long, narrow wooden panel features three rectangular sections of dense black ink on a light background, forming a visually striking pattern. The panel is likely a page from a Buddhist manuscript.

Technique & Style

The ink is composed of tiny, closely packed lines, creating a uniform texture. The text is written in a consistent, meticulous hand, with no illustrations or breaks, suggesting a focus on the written word.

Subject & Meaning

The text is from the Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita-sutra, a Buddhist scripture known as the Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines. The dense, uniform script indicates that the text was intended for close study.

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.