This painting of 1916 reflects the broader, more decorative style, with bright, singing colours, that Harvey adopted around 1915. A parallel development is seen in the work of Laura Knight. Particularly effective here is the contrast between the cool colours of the girl’s pale blue dress, the tumble of crochet work and the grey-and-white striped cushion, with the intense red of her beret and the purple-pink hydrangeas.

Like Laura Knight, Harvey delighted in portraying children and young teenagers unselfconsciously absorbed in play or some domestic activity. His models were local girls who would sit on Saturdays and in the school holidays for the reward of half a crown.