Erotic subjects such as the depicted harem scene are among the recurring motifs of Leonor Fini, who has playfully captured a male-female constellation in fine, sweeping lines. Perceived by the public as an eccentric and exotic personality, the artist explored the relationship between man and woman in various ways. Fini was fascinated by the writings of the Marquis de Sade and also focused on women as sexual beings in her work. In doing so, she repeatedly broke with traditional role models and reversed the relationship between active masculinity and passive femininity. Fini promoted a new type of woman and often depicted herself in her works.
Leonor Fini is considered one of the most important female artists of the 20th century alongside pioneers such as Meret Oppenheimer and Frida Kahlo. She cultivated very close ties with surrealists like Max Ernst, de Chirico, Man Ray and Salvador Dalí and exhibited in this context on numerous occasions.
