Her Sexual Riddle (GEN MSS VOL 909)By Christopher Lu, Yale graduate studentThe engraving depicts a woman spinning yarn with a thick stick called a distaff. Under the guise of an innocuous domestic scene, the engraving in this album presents a sexual riddle to be solved. The title of the engraving, ‘Cheerful Enigma for Good Spirits’ (Énigme joyeuse pour les bons esprits), suggests that the image should be read as a riddle. The enigma in this album is also accompanied with a printed sonnet hinting at itsanswer, one that is rather risque. While we may never know for sure, we may imagine that as Susanne’s album was passed from one hand to another, her sexual riddle prompted many a cheeky grin.