The bodies of the two are posed so as to be evocative of passionate foreplay, while their faces remain impassive - a common theme in contemporary Safavid art.

[1] The quality of the clothing implies that the male figure is wealthy and that the woman is likely a prostitute (a profession that was legal in Safavid Iran at the time).

Further reinforcing the sensual nature of the painting is the partially-exposed navel of the woman, her uncovered feet (though she remains clothed and her hair is covered), and the way in which her breast is caught by the male figure's arm.

[2] Clouds, flowers, and trees are also present in the painting, serving to encircle the couple, while a carafe of wine and half-empty plate of fruit lies by their feet, implying some indulgence has already taken place.

At the time, Abbasi had already become known as a bold, innovative painter of drawings and album miniatures - a break from the traditional artistic establishment of Safavid Iran, which favored illustrations.