Henner had five brothers and sisters, including Madeleine, whom he paints here on her deathbed. His early paintings are characterized by a realism that would remain a constant in his work. In 1879, Henner would tell Durand-Gréville:
It was conscientious painting.
Henner to Durand-Gréville (1879)
The painter was a realist by temperament and no doubt also influenced by Germanic painting, notably Hans Holbein. This painting is the first example of the representations of death that were to recur in his work, later taking on a religious character with the figures of Christ.
