Renoir worked on this picture over several years. The two little girls and the lady behind them on the right are in an earlier, softer style than the rest of the picture. It was probably after a trip to Italy from 1881-82 that he reworked the picture in a more severe style.

Dates for the different parts of the painting can be established from the style of the costumes; 1881-82 for the earlier part and 1885-86 for the woman with the band-box on the left.