Eanger Irving Couse went to Paris in 1886 to study at Académie Julian. In 1889, he married Virginia Walker, a fellow student. Two years later, the couple traveled to eastern Klickitat County, Washington, and lived on the ranch of Virginia Walker Couse’s parents. Couse painted his first American Indian subjects during that visit. The couple returned to Paris in the fall of 1892, and remained there until 1896. They then came back to the Walker Ranch. In 1896–1898, Couse painted local Indians and pastoral scenes. This work dates to that time.