Absorbed courtesan, Iran qâjâr, 19th century Gouache, black and gold ink on paper depicting a bare-chested woman wearing an eggplant skirt, reclining on a carpet, half-wrapped in a blue blanket. She is leaning on a large cushion, her right arm folded behind her head, an orange cloth slipped into her left hand. In front of her is a resting antelope, her shoes and some crockery, and behind her is a tree and a large vase with a gold-plated frame. Mounted in a qet-e bandi composition with small illuminated panels, cartouches inscribed in nasta'liq on a cartouche album page with polychrome borders with gilded floral decoration. Painting size: 9 x 11.5 cm; page size: 12.4 x 20 cm Slight stains and wear.