"The supreme expression of Russian erotic graphic art. Somov had been working on Le Livre de la Marquise since the turn of the century, but it was not until the Russian Revolution precipitated the, temporary, cessation of censorship that Somov's vision was able to be realised. He fuses carefully selected erotic texts with delicate illustrations that evoke both the sedateness..." http://www.sothebys.com/en/auctions/ecatalogue/lot.103.html/2009/continental-and-russian-books-and-manuscripts-l09772