Mabel Dodge was a wealthy art patron from Buffalo, New York whose acquaintance with Gertrude and Leo Stein helped her establish a salon for artists in 1912. Dodge arrived in Taos in 1917, married Tony Luhan a Pueblo Indian, and converted her home into a gathering place for Taos artists including Georgia O'Keeffe, Marsden Hartley and John Marin.

The present picture depicts the Rabbit Hunt, an important ceremonial event for the Taos Publeo Indians held twice a year.