Portrait of Émile Erckmann and Alexandre Chatrian, known jointly as Erckmann-Chatrian. Émile Erckmann sits on the left, straddling a backwards chair while resting one elbow on the back of his companion's chair. Alexandre Chatrian sits on the right, with one arm draped over Erckmann's elbow and the other tucked into his jacket. The tipped-in photograph is surrounded by a patterned border printed on the mount.