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A couple seated against two pillows engaged in sex, from an erotic series
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art. Free to download, adapt and use — no permission needed.
About this work
Erotic paintings were commissioned by the patrons of painting, at times for educational purposes, mostly for pleasure. The artists would seek inspiration for the peculiar sexual positions from ancient texts such as Kamasutra and Kokashastra. In the painting, a woman rests on the lap of her paramour while their position is supported by two large bolsters put against the wall.
Cleveland Museum of Art’s own descriptionCredit lineA couple seated against two pillows engaged in sex, from an erotic series, c. 1700–1710. Northern India, Pahari kingdoms. Gum tempera on paper; page: 21.2 x 18.1 cm (8 3/8 x 7 1/8 in.); image: 18.1 x 16.4 cm (7 1/8 x 6 7/16 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Purchase and partial gift from the Catherine and Ralph Benkaim Collection; Severance and Greta Millikin Purchase Fund, 2018.110
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