

This painting may date from the Safavid period (1501-1736), although it is more likely that it is of the Qajar period (1794-1925) and painted in an archaizing Safavid style. Qajar artists often associated erotica and homoerotic scenes with the Safavid period. The gold-painted accents, facial features, Chinese-inspired rolling clouds and the use of colored papers are all staples of the Safavid painting tradition. However, it is much more likely that this work dates from the later Qajar period, as many erotic images were intentionally painted in an archaizing Safavid style either in hopes of attracting a foreign collector into paying more for its perceived antiquity or simply for stylistic preference.