Section of Border from Thanka (Religious Picture) 18th century, Qing dynasty (1644–1911)

This is a section from a larger thanka, a Tibetan Buddhist religious painting, depicting the border of a scroll. This specific border, created by Manchu artists in the 18th century during the Qing dynasty, features a repeating geometric design of squares and triangles, often found in traditional Tibetan art. The use of these elements in the border is a significant part of Tibetan Buddhist iconography, representing the universe and the interconnectedness of all things. The Art Institute of Chicago currently houses this artwork.