The fact that the needs of love cannot be expressed but must be divined has long been recognized by those who have written of the art of love, alike by writers within and without the European Christian traditions.  Thus Zacchia, in his great medico-legal treatise, points out that a husband must be attentive to the signs of sexual desire in his wife.  “Women,” he says, “when sexual desire arises within them are accustomed to ask their husbands questions on matters of love; they flatter and caress them; they allow some part of their body to be uncovered as if by accident; their breasts appear to swell; they show unusual alacrity; they blush; their eyes are bright; and if they experience unusual ardor they stammer, talk beside the mark, and are scarcely mistress of themselves.  At the same time their private parts become hot and swell.  All these signs should convince a husband, however inattentive he may be, that his wife craves for satisfaction” (Zacchiae Quaestionum Medico-legalium Opus, lib. vii, tit. iii, quaest.  I; vol. ii, p. 624 in ed. of 1688).

The old Hindu erotic writers attributed great importance alike to the man’s attentiveness to the woman’s erotic needs, and to his skill and consideration in all the preliminaries of the sexual act.  He must do all that he can to procure her pleasure, says Vatsyayana.  When she is on her bed and perhaps absorbed in conversation, he gently unfastens the knot of her lower garment.  If she protests he closes her mouth with kisses.  Some authors, Vatsyayana remarks, hold that the lover should begin by sucking the nipples of her breasts.  When erection occurs he touches her with his hands, softly caressing the various parts of her body.  He should always press those parts of her body towards which she turns her eyes.  If she is shy, and it is the first time, he will place his hands between her thighs which she will instinctively press together.  If she is young he will put his hands on her breasts, and she will no doubt cover them with her own.  If she is mature he will do all that may seem fitting and agreeable to both parties.  Then he will take her hair and her chin between his fingers and kiss them.  If she is very young she will blush and close her eyes.  By the way in which she receives his caresses he will divine what pleases her most in union.  The signs of her enjoyment are that her body becomes limp, her eyes close, she loses all timidity, and takes part in the movements which bring her most closely to him.  If, on the other hand, she feels no pleasure, she strikes the bed with her hands, will not allow the man to continue, is sullen, even bites or kicks, and continues the movements of coitus when the man has finished.  In such cases, Vatsyayana adds, it is his duty to rub the vulva with his hand before union until it is moist, and he should perform the same movements afterwards if his own orgasm has occurred first.

With regard to Indian erotic art generally,