Vaughan’s paintings of the 1950s balance figuration and abstraction, moving increasingly towards abstraction of the landscape. Here, the background has been reduced to abstract patches of colour which suggest water and forest but create a sense of ambiguity, and recall Cézanne’s late paintings of bathers. The figures echo the shapes of the landscape while remaining distinct from it, almost like dancers against a stage set. Vaughan attended the theatre regularly, including ballet performances, which appear to have influenced his graceful depiction of figures. He also produced a number of paintings of dancers. At the time this work was painted, Vaughan was interested in producing paintings of figures in motion or off balance.