"The elegantly dressed painter, holding his palette and mahl-stick, is relaxing on a sofa; at the other end of the sofa sits a young woman, dressed in black, who is separated from the artist both in actuality and in demeanor. Exactly what the relationship is between these two participants remains unclear. If Bouderie is the true title of the work it could it be that the woman is the one sulking because she is unhappy with her likeness." http://books0977.tumblr.com/page/12 The year before, Dagnan married Courtois' cousin Anne-Marie. I do not know if she is the woman in the painting or if someone else is depicted. (http://artcontrarian.blogspot.nl/2013/12/pascal-dagnan-bouveret.html)