A PORTRAIT OF A QAJAR COURTESAN WAITING FOR HER LOVER
PROPERTY FROM AN IMPORTANT EUROPEAN PRIVATE COLLECTION
Iran, 20th century

Opaque pigments, ink and pencil on paper, the vertical full-length portrait depicting a half-clad courtesan kneeling on the floor and waiting for her lover, wearing large pink pantaloons and a diaphanous blouse showing off her bosoms, in front of her a bowl of ripe fruits and a gilt incense burner, symbols of her passion and desire, on the wall "a picture in the picture" with two lovers holding hands, set within black and gold rules, mounted, glazed and framed, 27.2cm x 21.5cm including the frame.