This picture, together with its companion piece 'Dancing Girl with Castanets', was painted as part of the decoration for the dining room of a flat belonging to Monsieur Maurice Gangnat at 24 Avenue de Friedland, Paris.

It was intended that the pictures should hang either side of a mirror and originally the figures were to bear dishes of fruit. The model for both girls was Georgette Pigeot, but the head of the figure in the 'Dancing Girl with Castanets' was modelled on Renoir's maid, Gabrielle.

Renoir is said to have considered the two paintings as among the most important of his late works.