This painting is probably one of the first in a series of works portraying men and women playing the guitar that Renoir created at the end of the 1890s. These pieces mark a change in his work and bear witness to a move towards a somewhat more classical style.

Here, the artist abandons ordinary clothes in favour of a Spanish costume, as can be seen in the pink ribbon bows on the dress of the musician. The composition, carefully divided into areas of warm and cool colours, is dominated by the swirling contours of the dress, the guitar, the armchair, and the cushion, which provides a contrast with the vertical lines in the background. The varying shades of white bring texture to the dress, with nuances of blue and grey hinting at the play of light and shadow. At this time, Renoir greatly admired the fantasy figures painted by Camille Corot, an artist who had also portrayed women playing musical instruments in timeless settings. 

However, the imposing way forms are depicted is also a reference to the tradition of the Old Masters, particularly Titian and Rubens. Purchased from Paul Durand-Ruel’s gallery in 1901, this was the first Impressionist painting to be added to the museum collections.