From 1863 to 1865 Pissarro rented properties at La Varenne-Saint-Maur which is situated to the south-east of Paris on the River Marne, opposite Chennevières. At this point the river flows in a great loop beyond the Bois de Vincennes before it joins the River Seine. This highly finished study is loosely related to the right foreground area of The Marne at Chennevières, also in the National Galleries of Scotland collection, which Pissarro exhibited at the 1865 Paris Salon. Given the high degree of finish of this drawing, and the Corot-like figure group in mid-distance, is likely that this was actually a fully independent composition rather than a preparatory study for the painting.