In 1906, Frederick Fursman traveled to Paris to study at the Académie Julian and ended up staying for several years. The strong contrasts and delicate hues of this painting show that he was inspired by the French impressionists, who by the early twentieth century were well established in the country’s artistic history. The intense sunlight that glows on the woman’s starched uniform echoes in the play of light on the water and contrasts with the rich colors of the shadows. Dashes of blue appear throughout the composition, from the shadows in the distance and the ripples on the water to the bending blades of grass around the figure’s feet.