Miniature Indian Erotic Painting

Although the Kama Sutra, India’s famous guide to sensual living, wouldn’t be translated into English until the late 19th century, foreigners in India during the heyday of the British East India Company could easily have obtained erotic imagery through the brisk trade of Indian miniature paintings that catered to Western audiences. Known as the Company School, this approach melded the Mughal miniature tradition with Western techniques and styles. Painted in the mid-19th century of water-based pigments on ivory, a medium unique to Delhi artists, this miniature offers an intimate glimpse at the erotic lifestyle of the imperial court. We’re charmed by the peephole effect created by the painting's oval shape.