Natalia Goncharova was a pioneering artist: her vast exhibition in Moscow, 1913 was the first ever public solo show by a woman artist in Russia. She worked closely with her partner, painter Mikhail Larionov (1881–1964) and the Jack (or Knave) of Diamonds group of artists (1910-17), who organised cutting edge exhibitions by artists in Russia and based abroad, including Alexej von Jawlensky. Collaboration, conversation and artistic exchange were everywhere. It is likely that this drawing was made after Goncharova travelled to Switzerland, Spain and Italy to design stage sets and costumes for the Ballet Russes. She settled in Paris in 1919 and continued her interdisciplinary approach, working in fashion, graphic and interior design and book illustration. This drawing was made across a double page of a book.