Standing Buddha, Thai, 7th-8th century. Gray limestone, 130.81 × 45.72 × 15.24 cm. Nelson Atkins Museum, Purchase: William Rockhill Nelson Trust, 35-33.

Over a thousand years ago, artists in Thailand carved this enlightened historical Buddha’s face to look like themselves. Notice the Buddha’s reflective expression, upright pose, curly hair, and belly full of breath — do you see aspects of yourself? Set into a Buddhist temple niche, only the front of this slender sculpture was visible. Since few of the brick temples from this period survive, the sculpture’s broken limbs may suggest that its original home was ruined. Yet the Buddha’s gentle features and downcast eyes still radiate quiet, internal power.