Much of Vuillard’s work was focused on the depiction of contemporary domestic Parisian life. His mother, widowed when the artist was a young boy, worked as a textile designer and dressmaker to support her family, and Vuillard, who lived with her until her death in 1928, was deeply influenced by his experiences of family life. He frequently used his mother and sister as models, depicting them in the midst of household tasks, such as folding laundry.