Hugo Salmson settled in Paris in 1873. He concentrated initially on becoming a history painter, but new impressions influenced a change to the portrayal of everyday life and modern man. From a Swedish perspective, he is considered one of the most technically skilled artists of his generation—detailed and exact. Yet here he has portrayed Mademoiselle Pourtalès in sweeping, free brushstrokes. It seems to be an intimate picture of a friend. In a provocative pose for the time, she meets our eye unashamedly.