This set of hand-coloured illustrations has appeared ‘in the flesh’ and online in various permutations, sometimes titled Grand Hotel Budapest, sometimes Plaisirs défendus (Forbidden Pleasures), most often without any title. The truth is that the collection has no title, but as it appears to have originated in Dresden we have titled this joyfully sinful set of paintings Das Dresdner Album.

The eighty watercolour paintings are mounted on dark boards, and inserted two to a page in a large cloth-bound album with brass clasps. Although there is no date given, the clothing and hairstyles suggest that they date from the early 1930s.

Maybe it’s time to bring back suspenders as a must-have item of kink.

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.