Renoir undertook this monumental canvas as a means of re-asserting his prowess as a society portraitist. The sitters are the daughters of Catulle Mendès, a celebrated poet and an important literary figure of Belle-Epoque Paris. When the picture was shown, it was coolly received, and it failed to provoke the flood of commissions that Renoir was hoping for.

The firm draftsmanship and solid, almost wooden modeling you see in this picture had become hallmarks of Renoir's manner in the 1880s. At the same time, this is one of the artist's most daringly colored works. Shimmering streaks of blue and violet highlight the girls' white dresses, and pockets of glowing vermilion are scattered throughout the scene. Such bold effects were motivated by Renoir's growing concern with creating rich and complex tonal harmonies that would subsequently unify his paintings from a purely decorative standpoint.