Work

The painting is considered an important painting in Constant's oeuvre; it shows his transition from New Babylon to the Late Period. After finishing it, Constant was somewhat shocked by the result: he felt that he had incorporated too much reality into it. Fanny Kelk - art critic and preparing an exhibition and catalogue accompanying the David Roëll Prize for Constant, said she thought the painting was beautiful. This kept Constant from destroying it — he ended up giving the painting to her. Inspired by her words, Constant allowed reality to seep even further into his paintings.