An Amorous Couple

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A smooth-faced young man leans on a plump bolster, his sleeve rolled up to receive the burns on his forearm inflicted by his lover, who kneels holding his wrist. Although his pose could not be more languorous, he has wrapped his scarf around his left hand to squeeze and lessen the pain of the burn. The almond-eyed, ivory-skinned couple may show no emotion, but their actions and other details of the picture such as the wine bottle and cups and the man's bare feet are a paradigm of love. In the 16th and 17th centuries it was acceptable for lovers to burn themselves or be burned to prove the sincerity of their feelings.While many portraits of figures displaying their burn marks depict dervishes and thus imply burning done for the love of God, this work by Kailash Raj is unquestionably erotic and heterosexual.

Especially noteworthy is the dense gold foliage in the background.