Falguière's nudes were seen by his contemporaries almost as portraits--certainly the figures were recognizable as studio models. The artist was often critized in the press for the realism of his female figures. However, the public response to Falguière's annual entry at the Paris Salon and the resultant commercial success of the reductions of his sculpture outweighed such "official criticism".

The life-size plaster of the present model was exhibited at the Salon of 1882 and a marble in the Salon of 1887. One of the artist's most popular models, it was edited in various sizes and media.