A young woman seated before a painting placed on an easel is daydreaming, a melancholic expression on her face, a book half open on her lap. Light from a skylight illuminates the scene and the wall upon which several small landscape paintings are hung.

After 1865, Corot created a series of six paintings on the theme of the model in the studio. This one dates from 1870 and is the only one where the model is not shown with a mandolin, which in this piece has been replaced by a book.

Silent poetry permeates this work which seeks to convey the sitter's ambivalence, but perhaps also the emotions experienced by the painter himself when faced with this young woman in this instant. In this respect, it could be compared to his contemporary work with 'souvenir' landscapes. In these paintings, Corot is no longer trying to depict things as they really appear; instead, he creates an interpretation based on memories and feelings. The palette is similar to that of his landscapes in its exploration of nuances of brown and grey, as is the poetic, nostalgic feel which may be connected to several bereavements the artist experienced in 1870.