Pencil and watercolour on paper 230 x 197 mm, pencil ms inscription in the bottom-left “Schule der Aspasia” 1 (2, 3), monogrammed “P” in the bottom-right, and “Erika Plehn” to verso. Apparently, illustrations for ‘Die Weisheiten der Aspasia’ also known as ‘Die Dirnenschule der Aspasia’ (Aspasia’s prostitute school), an erotic novel by Fritz Thurn (Foregger), privately published in Vienna in 1923.

Artist: Erika Plehn [née Erika Pinkus] (German, 1904 – 1988)

Author: Fritz Thurn [Foregger zum Greiffenthurn] (Austrian, 1877 – 1938).

Aspasia of Miletus (Greek, c. 464 BCE – c. 420 BCE)