This drawing was published on 28 November 1898 as an illustration to a short story by Georges Courteline in Gil Blas the popular Parisian daily newspaper.

It is probable that it appeared in the magazine supplement to the newspaper which was published weekly from 1891 to 1903, printing stories, poems and songs by celebrated authors of the day with illustrations by artists such as Forain, van Dongen and Villon. Steinlen was the artist most closely assoicated with Gil Blas illustré and his contributions appeared in numerous issues between 1891 and 1900