

This painting is meant to emulate erotic miniatures of the Ottoman period (1299-1923), while also bearing many of the same objects featured in the Qajar erotic paintings (such as wine, slippers, and oversized cushions). Miniature painting as an art is still practiced in modern Turkey alongside Western forms of art. The scene is meant to take place in old Istanbul, which is evident from the view of the city's distinct skyline seen through the window and from the old fashioned decoration of the room. The signature of the artist appears in the lower right corner of the painting. This signature does not read as any common name and thus may be a pseudo-signature in Arabic script by a modern Turkish artist not comfortable with Arabic. The piece is dated 1389 of the Islamic lunar calendar, which is equivalent to 2003 CE.