Although Leon Gaspard was one of the earliest members of the Taos colony and is known for his western pictures, he also travelled throughout Europe, Mexico, Bali and Asia. These diverse journeys allowed him to experience many aspects of life which he wove together and depicted on canvas. In early 1921, Leon Gaspard and his wife Evelyn decided to journey to Asia. After selling their prized Model T to their milkman for $350, the Gaspards embarked in the China Mail en route to Japan. After a month in Shanghai, the artist travelled to Peking. In his book Leon Gaspard, Frank Waters notes, "Peking was one of (Gaspard's) favorite cities in the world, perhaps the best in which to paint. Always the atmosphere had an unusual quality, a light without glare and with almost no shadows. In a pale, clear setting under an almost cloudless sky, all the vivid Chinese colors seemed to merge with remarkable harmony." (p.70) Gaspard had an interest in exploring the movement of beings through the world, and processions and journeys were favorite subjects for him. In the artists's own words, "Every inch of the canvas must talk and so contribute to the total effect. Art does not stand still." (quoted in F. Waters, p. 42)