Some of those French house parties in the 1930s must have been quite an experience if this little portfolio of drawings is anything to go by. The underdressed châtelaine opens the proceedings, while guests are greeted by a well-trained maid. The happy family of the house know the dress code, and so the proceedings unfold. There are indoor and outdoor games, plenty of opportunities for sex education, and in the end everyone gets nice and clean in the crowded bathroom.

The quality of the drawing and colouring of this anonymous and privately-produced album is better than much of the output of this period, displaying both imagination and a large portion of wit.


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.