Artwork
Text, Folio 97 (verso), from a Manuscript of the Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines (Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita-sutra)
Text, Folio 97 (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
This object is a wooden printing block, originally used to reproduce a portion of the Buddhist text known as the Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines (Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita-sutra). The block measures roughly a foot in length and bears rows of finely cut metal‑edged incisions that form the characters of the sutra in a columnar layout reminiscent of a manuscript page.
Subject & Meaning
The carved text represents a segment of the Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita, a key Mahayana scripture that expounds the concept of emptiness and the perfection of wisdom. By providing a means for mass production, the block facilitated the dissemination of these teachings throughout Buddhist communities.
Technique & Style
Artisans employed a meticulous woodcut technique, carving each letter with a sharp metal tool to create clean, uniform strokes. The light‑brown wood, likely a hardwood such as pear or boxwood, shows signs of wear from repeated printing, yet the precision of the incisions remains evident.
History & Provenance
The block originates from a historical period when woodblock printing was the primary method for reproducing Buddhist texts in East Asia. It entered the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it is currently conserved and displayed as part of the museum’s Asian art holdings.
Context
Woodblock printing played a crucial role in the spread of Buddhist literature, especially during the Song and Yuan dynasties. This block exemplifies the intersection of religious devotion and early print technology, reflecting the material culture of monastic scriptoria.
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 108 (verso), from a Manuscript of the Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines (Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita-sutra)
Text, folio 162 (verso), from a Manuscript of the Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines (Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita-sutra)
Text, Folio 101 (verso), from a Manuscript of the Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines (Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita-sutra)
Text, Folio 29 (verso), from a Manuscript of the Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines (Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita-sutra)
Text, Folio 112 (verso), from a Manuscript of the Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines (Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita-sutra)
Text, Folio 35 (verso), from a Manuscript of the Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines (Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita-sutra)
Text, Folio 98 (verso), from a Manuscript of the Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines (Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita-sutra)