To the casual observer, the painting looks like a normal love scene between an amorous young man and his disinterested love. According to Perseus, however, what is actually taking place is a young man soliciting a hetaira, or an ancient Greek prostitute. The hetairae served a very unique purpose in Greek society. Greek wives were not really expected or allowed to be educated in the same way men were. Their knowledge was confined to the domestic sphere. However, the hetaira was very well educated in order that she may converse on "masculine" subjects with her clients in addition to performing sexual favors. The hetaira was the highest class, as well as the most expensive prostitute available in Greece, and therefore, could probably afford to be choosy in her clients. This perhaps accounts for the disinterested look on the kylix hetaira's face. The scene is moderately amusing, as well as sexually charged. The hetaira wears a long garment that is opaque on the top, thereby allowing the owner of the cup to catch a glimpse of her right breast. Even trickier, the flower which the youth offers the woman is shaped like a vulva, and he strategically holds the bud over the place where the woman's real genitals would be seen, had she not been clothed. The painter is able, in effect, to render the hetaira nude, although she is technically fully dressed. The kylix interior becomes a sort of tease for the viewer, who is allowed a taste of the hetaira's favors, but not the whole deal.

In a world without the modern technologies such as television, stereo, or even kareoke, the visual cues painted onto drinking cups were very important to the celebration. It was essential that the scenes depicted be conducive to pleasure, the more sex and drunkenness depicted, the better. A tondo revealed could provoke conversation, trigger memories of festivals past, or, if the ancient Greeks were anything like their descendants 2500 years later, inspire tall-tales of exploits no one could disprove.

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