fragment wood block block printing images oldest surviving images western world cut sides scene christ kneeling angel presumed scene scene likely consisted blocks surviving block fragment features roman shown speaking precursor modern speech balloon containing words comes printer acquired block discovery near abbey france stone floor poor preservation quarter block survived able withstand making prints time discovery kept photographs france paris description millimetre fragment remains engraved sides printing cloth paper fragment scene cross left arm christ visible right roman soldiers stand speaking speech mouth contains latin text son god written translation matthew reverse remains kneeling angel probably scene judging fragment coming commonly depicted scene thought quarter original block remains surface complete scene believed centimetres larger contemporary paper sizes indicating intended printing cloth common patterns clothing usually thought intended printing cloth altar rare block carved images sides likely intended printed press background relief printing form originated china earliest examples printed cloth paper prints followed invention paper printed images religious buddhist scenes method method texts sorts earliest surviving example 14th century arrival printing europe technology widespread 15th century paper readily available prints tended religious affordable people paintings illustrated religious books playing cards secular prints popular century combined type particularly germany appeared master artists form enjoyed high level history discovered france corner masonry house department abbey destroyed french revolution board suffered pressure humidity pavement discovery block purchased printer collector came called block test prints china paper exhibited world fair paris block state withstand repeated quarters original lost damage humidity insects reverse especially held condition suitable making impressions curator prints published study block called sur ancestor wood contested conclusions dated work 14th century based technical details style art script speech costumes weapons soldiers historical impressions prints block known early attributed artist time remained family entrusted donated
Bois Protat