This is one of several sheets on that genre which Bernard sent to Van Gogh, in summer 1888. He noted: "À mon ami Vincent, ce croqui[s] bête" [For my friend Vincent, this silly sketch]. Van Gogh, staying in Arles at that time, was aware of the development of Cloisonnism, and for a while worked to adapt his own style to it. He however answered that two other sheets from same series were by far better:

"Bravo! The woman washing herself and the one who says "I'm second to none when it comes to taking it out of a man" are the best, it seems to me. The others are grimacing too much—and most of all, are too vague, too little flesh and bone properly built up. It doesn't matter; it's already something altogether new and interesting, and the rest, too — at the brothel — yes, that's what needs to be done" (B19, p.1)