The last of Merényi’s three erotic portfolios, and the most accomplished, is entitled simply La volupté, Pleasure, and it is pleasure of the most voluptuously shared kind, both artistically and thematically. The pleasure of shared sex is clearly being enjoyed by all involved, and the use of colour adds to the richness of the plates – do we gather from this that the artist has at last discovered true shared erotic pleasure?

The title page suggests that this is Volume 1 of several, but no sequel has ever been recorded, and the title page gives the Merényi pseudonym Et Crayon, completing the ‘Frenchification’ of this French-titled collection.

We are very grateful to Hans-Jürgen Döpp for these images; Hans-Jürgen, the compiler of many books on erotic art, curates the Venusberg online gallery and bookshop which you can find here.