During his later years Corot often visited the hamlet of Coubron, situated west of Paris near Le Raincy. In 1873 he had a studio built there, adjoining the property of his friends Dr and Mme Gratiot. This painting has been dated to around 1870-2, but it is difficult to be precise. Corot did spend more time in Coubron from 1872 onwards in order to escape the pressure of clients at his Paris studio. The motif of the willow trees, horse and rider and a peasant woman gathering flowers are all found frequently in Corot’s late work.