British artist, Laura Alma-Tadema specialized in genre paintings of domestic life. Here is an idealized scene of a young woman earnestly focusing on her embroidery, sewing basket at her feet. Women occupied with sewing was a popular subject in Victorian times. The setting is reminiscent of 17th-century Dutch interiors, and Laura was possibly influenced by her husband, the Dutch artist Lawrence Alma-Tadema. He had moved his family to London after meeting her in order to give Laura painting lessons. The young model is likely one of Laura’s stepdaughters.