Born in Gumbinnen, Germany Richard Friese was one of the foremost German painters of wildlife subjects in the nineteenth century. He taught Kuhnert at the Berlin Academy. His fascination with animals sent him to Syria, Norway and the Arctic circle, where he was able to study them in their natural habitat. The present work was painted during one of his journeys to the latter region and is his most important treatment of this subject.

His work was highly regarded and Friese won medals in 1885, 1886 and an honorable mention in 1900; he became a member of the Berlin Academy in 1892. Among his most distinguished patrons were Emperor Franz Josef in Vienna and Emperor Wilhelm II.