This vibrant work of 1874 marks a turning point in the artist's oeuvre, when the artist began to paint scenes of Parisian life under the influence of Edgar Degas. During this year, Boldini painted two important compositions of the Place Pigalle (location unknown) and the Place Clichy (Marzotto Collection, Valdagn). Our work takes the central buildings of the Place Pigalle composition and adds the frenetic movement of a horse and carriage and passing figures in the right foreground. Realistic details, are in contrast with the small-scale eighteenth century style interiors which he was producing for the art dealer Adolphe Goupil during the period.

1874 was the first year that Boldini exhibited at the Paris Salon, and was also the year of the opening exhibition of the Impressionists at the Salon des Refusés. Although the artist was never to fall under their influence, despite the friendship he was to form with the key protagonists of the movement, this work has a comparable spontaneity, and displays his ability to treat all subject matter with the same fluid technique.