This picture, together with its companion piece 'Dancing Girl with Tambourine' was painted to form 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 the girls was Georgette Pigeot, but the head of the figure in this work 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.