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Degas museum

Degas depicts the interior of his maternal uncle Michel Musson's cotton firm in New Orleans. Degas created the painting in the early part of during an extended visit with family in New Orleans. His trip coincided with the political turbulence of Reconstruction. Degas exhibited the work at the Impressionist Exhibition in Paris. Degas hoped to sell the painting to a textile manufacturer in Manchester but was unsuccessful.

Edgar Degas had familial ties to Creole New Orleans. In the aftermath of the Haitian Revolution , he relocated in to New Orleans where he established himself as a cotton exporter. After his wife died in , Germain Musson moved his family to Paris. When Edgar was born, Auguste arranged the purchase of a New Orleans cottage in his son's name.

He was still uncertain about focusing his painting on contemporary subjects and had not yet found much success selling his art. He spent much time painting these family members, especially Estelle. William Bell and his business partner Frederick Nash Ogden worked in the cotton trade close by.